The NBA In-Season Tournament brings knockout-style drama to the regular season, giving teams another trophy to chase and fans more high-stakes basketball before the playoffs. Now known as the NBA Cup, the competition combines group-stage matchups, intense elimination games, and a championship final that adds a new layer of excitement to the NBA calendar.
What Is the NBA In-Season Tournament?
The NBA In-Season Tournament is an annual competition held during the NBA regular season. It is now officially called the Emirates NBA Cup. All 30 teams participate in group play, and eight advance to single-elimination knockout rounds. Most tournament games count toward regular-season standings, but the championship game does not. The 2026 NBA Cup begins October 30 and concludes with the championship on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
What Is the NBA Cup?
The NBA Cup is a separate competition built into the NBA’s regular-season schedule. It was introduced in the 2023–24 season to make early-season games more meaningful and give teams another championship to pursue.
Although many fans still search for the “NBA In-Season Tournament,” the competition is now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup. The tournament does not replace the NBA playoffs or the regular season. Instead, it adds a second objective: compete for the Cup while continuing to fight for a strong position in the standings.
The format creates a tournament atmosphere without requiring teams to play an entirely separate schedule.
How Does the NBA In-Season Tournament Work?
The NBA Cup has two main stages: Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
Stage 1: Group Play
All 30 teams are divided into six groups of five. Each team plays four games against the other teams in its group.
Stage 2: Knockout Rounds
Eight teams qualify for quarterfinals, followed by semifinals and the championship. Lose an elimination game, and the Cup run is over.
This structure rewards consistency in the group stage and makes every knockout game a win-or-go-home contest.
NBA Cup 2026 Schedule and Key Dates
The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup runs from late October through December. Here are the key dates announced by the NBA.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Group Play begins | October 30, 2026 |
| Additional Group Play dates | November 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 and 27 |
| Quarterfinals | December 4–5 |
| Semifinals | December 8 and/or 9 |
| Championship | December 11 |
The championship is scheduled for Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, a historic basketball venue. Unlike the previous three tournaments, whose semifinals and finals were held in Las Vegas, the 2026 championship moves to Indianapolis.
For the latest matchups and broadcast information, check the official NBA Cup page.
NBA Cup Group Play Explained
Group Play is where every team begins its tournament journey. The NBA places all 30 teams into six groups: three in the Eastern Conference and three in the Western Conference.
Each group contains five teams. Every team plays one game against each of its four group opponents, with two games at home and two on the road.
These games take place on designated Cup Nights, when the NBA schedule focuses on tournament matchups.
How Are NBA Cup Groups Determined?
For the 2026 competition, teams were placed into groups through a draw based on their records from the 2025–26 regular season. Teams were divided into performance-based pots before being assigned to groups within their conference.
The purpose is to create a balanced competition while keeping Eastern Conference teams in Eastern groups and Western Conference teams in Western groups.
What Happens If Teams Finish Tied?
If teams finish Group Play with the same record, the NBA uses tiebreakers in a defined order. These include:
- Head-to-head record in Group Play.
- Point differential in Group Play.
- Total points scored in Group Play.
- Previous regular-season record.
- Random drawing, if necessary.
This means a team may need more than victories to secure qualification. The margin of victory can matter, so teams have a reason to keep competing even when a game appears decided.
How Do Teams Qualify for the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds?
Eight teams advance from Group Play to the knockout stage.
- Six group winners: The team finishing first in each of the six groups qualifies.
- Two wild cards: One additional team from each conference advances as the best second-place finisher in its conference.
The knockout stage begins with the quarterfinals. The winners move to the semifinals, and the two semifinal winners compete for the NBA Cup trophy.
Unlike a typical league standings race, there is no second chance in the knockout rounds. One defeat ends a team’s tournament campaign.
NBA Cup Rules: Do Games Count Toward the Regular Season?
Yes. Most NBA Cup games count toward the standard 82-game regular season.
Group Play games count toward each team’s regular-season record. Quarterfinal and semifinal games also count toward the regular season for the teams involved.
The championship game is the exception. It determines the Cup champion but does not count toward regular-season standings. Teams still play 82 regular-season games in total.
This arrangement is important because it allows the league to introduce a tournament without changing the basic length of the NBA season.
What Does the NBA Cup Winner Receive?
Winning the NBA Cup brings a championship trophy, recognition, and a share of the tournament prize pool for eligible players. Players on teams that reach later knockout stages receive larger allocations than those eliminated earlier.
The NBA also selects an NBA Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) and an All-Tournament Team based on performances throughout Group Play and the knockout rounds.
The Cup is not the same as the Larry O’Brien Trophy awarded to the NBA Finals champion. A team can win the NBA Cup without winning the NBA championship, because the two competitions have different formats and objectives.
NBA Cup Winners: 2023–2025
The first three editions produced three different champions.
| Year | NBA Cup Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers |
| 2024 | Milwaukee Bucks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2025 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs |
The Lakers won the inaugural tournament in 2023, followed by the Bucks in 2024 and the Knicks in 2025. The Knicks’ victory added their name to the competition’s growing history.
NBA In-Season Tournament vs. NBA Playoffs
The NBA Cup and NBA playoffs both feature high-pressure basketball, but they serve different purposes.
| Feature | NBA Cup | NBA Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Early in the regular season | After the regular season |
| Main goal | Win the Cup | Win the NBA championship |
| Starting field | All 30 NBA teams | Qualified postseason teams |
| Format | Group stage, then single-elimination games | Multi-game playoff series |
| Championship result | Cup trophy | Larry O’Brien Trophy |
| Regular-season impact | Most games count | Separate postseason competition |
The biggest difference is the stakes. The NBA Cup offers a shorter tournament and another title to compete for, while the playoffs determine the NBA champion.
Why Did the NBA Introduce the In-Season Tournament?
The NBA introduced the tournament to make more early-season games feel consequential. At the start of a long regular season, fans sometimes focus more on the playoffs than on individual games in October or November.
The Cup gives teams a specific short-term target, adds a qualification race, and creates elimination games before the postseason. It also provides another opportunity for players to compete for a trophy and tournament honors.
Its long-term success depends on whether fans and players continue to treat the competition as meaningful, but the format gives the league a distinct event within the regular-season calendar.
How to Watch the NBA Cup in 2026
Broadcast availability varies by game, region, and stage of the tournament. The NBA’s published 2026 information lists Group Play games across Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, ESPN, and NBA League Pass, depending on the matchup. Knockout-round games are scheduled to stream on Prime Video.
International viewers should check their local NBA broadcast partners or NBA League Pass availability, since U.S. broadcast arrangements may not apply in every country.
For confirmed game times, matchups, and viewing options, use the official NBA Cup schedule and information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NBA In-Season Tournament the same as the NBA Cup?
Yes. The competition was originally called the NBA In-Season Tournament and is now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup. The format centers on Group Play and single-elimination knockout rounds.
When does the NBA Cup 2026 start?
The 2026 NBA Cup begins with Group Play on October 30, 2026. The championship is scheduled for December 11 in Indianapolis.
How many teams make the NBA Cup knockout stage?
Eight teams qualify: six group winners and two wild cards, with one wild card from each conference.
Does the NBA Cup champion automatically qualify for the playoffs?
No. Winning the Cup does not automatically secure a playoff spot. Teams must still earn their postseason position through the regular-season standings.
Does the NBA Cup final count as a regular-season game?
No. Group Play, quarterfinals, and semifinals count toward the regular-season record, but the championship game does not.
Who won the most recent NBA Cup?
The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the championship game.
Where will the 2026 NBA Cup final be played?
The championship is scheduled for Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 11, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The NBA In-Season Tournament, now known as the Emirates NBA Cup, gives the regular season a fresh competitive edge. Its group stage rewards consistency, its knockout rounds create sudden-death drama, and its championship offers teams another meaningful trophy to chase.
For fans, the essentials are simple: 30 teams start, eight reach the knockout rounds, and one wins the Cup. With Group Play starting October 30 and the 2026 championship set for December 11, the NBA Cup adds another storyline to follow well before the playoff race reaches its climax.
Emily Parker is a sports journalist at SportsOrbitX.com with a passion for covering cricket, tennis and major international sporting events. She is committed to producing clear, reliable and engaging content for sports enthusiasts worldwide.