The NBA Cup returns for its third season with a fresh schedule and vibrant new court designs, bringing midseason tournament excitement to basketball fans worldwide as all NBA teams compete for the coveted trophy and significant prize money. Let’s discuss the details further.

What Is the NBA Cup 2025?

The NBA Cup represents the league’s in-season tournament designed to increase early-season excitement and viewership. All 30 NBA teams participate in this midseason competition that runs concurrently with regular season games. The tournament aims to boost competitiveness during a period when fan attention often shifts to football seasons.

Originally called the In-Season Tournament, the event was rebranded as the Emirates NBA Cup following a sponsorship agreement with the Dubai-based airline. The tournament format was established through the collective bargaining agreement signed by the league and players’ association in June 2023. This marks the third edition of the relatively new NBA tradition.

The competition provides additional incentive for teams and players beyond standard regular season games. Players on the winning team receive $500,000 each, with runners-up earning $200,000 per player. Semifinal losers get $100,000 each, while quarterfinalists receive $50,000 per player.

How Does the NBA Cup 2025 Format Work?

The tournament begins with group stage play involving all 30 teams divided into six groups of five. Teams are split by conference into three Eastern and three Western Conference groups. Each team plays four group stage games against their assigned opponents, with two home and two away contests.

Group winners automatically advance to the knockout stage, joined by two wildcard teams from each conference. The wildcards go to the non-group winners with the best records in their respective conferences. Tiebreakers include head-to-head results, point differential, and total points scored during group play.

The knockout stage features single-elimination quarterfinals followed by semifinals and the championship game. Unlike previous seasons, this year’s tournament schedule primarily features Friday night games called “Cup Nights” rather than alternating between Tuesdays and Fridays.

Which Teams Are Participating in the 2025 NBA Cup?

All 30 NBA teams compete in the tournament, divided into the following groups:

Eastern Conference Groups:

• East A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

• East B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers

• East C: New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets

Western Conference Groups:

• West A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

• West B: Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans

• West C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs

What Is Special About the NBA Cup Courts?

Each team plays its home tournament games on specially designed courts created by artist Victor Solomon. The courts feature fully-painted gradient designs using team colors, with the gradient direction indicating conference alignment. Eastern Conference teams have left-to-right gradients while Western Conference teams feature right-to-left patterns.

The designs incorporate a symbolic 5×5 grid representing both the five players on court and five teams in each group. Each court includes unique overlays celebrating individual team identities, such as Boston’s parquet pattern or Portland’s rose theme. The apron areas showcase Statement Edition uniform colors that home teams will wear during tournament games.

The center court displays the NBA Cup trophy design with special engravings for previous champions. The distinctive visual identity helps tournament games stand out from regular-season contests while creating a cohesive tournament experience across all venues.

When and Where Is the NBA Cup 2025 Final?

The semifinals and championship will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 13, and Tuesday, Dec. 16. All knockout-round games will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Group play will be covered across Prime Video, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and regional sports networks; international viewers can watch via NBA League Pass. The Cup group play runs Oct. 31–Nov. 28, and Prime will present five consecutive Friday-night doubleheaders beginning Oct. 31.

How to Watch the NBA Cup 2025

Viewers can catch tournament action through these platforms:

• Broadcast: Selected games on ESPN and regional sports networks

• Streaming: Amazon Prime Video (Friday night games and all knockout rounds)

• International: NBA League Pass for viewers outside the United States
  The tournament tips off on October 31 with eight games available on Prime Video and NBA League Pass.