The Emirates NBA Cup, an in-season tournament introduced during the 2023-24 season, is set to return for its third edition in the 2025-26 season, offering teams and players an exciting opportunity to compete for a trophy along with substantial cash bonuses. The tournament, which provides an additional competitive layer to the regular season, has seen the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks emerge as its first champions.
This year’s tournament will commence on Halloween, October 31, with most group stage games scheduled for Fridays leading up to November 28, complemented by select Tuesday matches. The knockout rounds will start with the quarterfinals on December 9 and 10, while the semifinals and championship game will be held in Las Vegas on December 13 and December 16.
The format of the NBA Cup mirrors that of the World Cup, featuring group play followed by knockout rounds. All 30 teams will be divided into six groups based on their performances from the previous season, competing in a total of four group games—two at home and two on the road. Teams that find themselves tied in group standings will be subjected to tiebreakers that prioritize head-to-head records and point differentials, among others.
As part of the tournament, eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the top team from each group and two wild-card teams from each conference, based on their overall record. The stakes are high, as all teams that qualify for the knockout stages will receive a share of the approximately $18 million prize pool, with individual rewards ranging from over $514,000 for the winners to around $51,000 for those who exit at the quarterfinal stage.
Each game’s outcome will count toward the regular-season standings, with the added incentive of a trophy, cash bonuses, and the prestigious titles of MVP and All-Tournament Team selections awarded to standout players.
This year’s groups have been carefully organized according to past performance, with exciting matchups set to unfold. For fans eager to catch the action, the majority of the games will be available on NBA League Pass and Prime Video, with select broadcasts on NBC and ESPN.
The introduction of the NBA Cup has certainly added a new dynamic to the league, enhancing the excitement of the regular season and providing teams with additional motivation in their pursuit of success. As basketball enthusiasts look forward to the tournament’s kick-off, the anticipation surrounding which team will emerge victorious continues to grow.