Emirates NBA Cup: schedule, prizes, how it works, and where to watch
The new agreement between the NBA and NBPA has officially introduced the NBA Cup: date, schedule, where to watch it, and how the second edition of the NBA In-Season Tournament (Emirates NBA Cup) works
For years there has been talk of the NBA implementing a tournament to make regular season games more significant. Following the agreement between the league and the NBPA, the In-Season NBA Tournament (NBA Cup) made its debut in the 2023-2024 season.
Despite the detractors, the NBA has finally managed to get the players to accept the famous “mid-season tournament“, which is intended to liven up a phase of the Regular Season where viewership starts to decline after the initial hype of the first few weeks.
This is a concept that has been developing in the league office for about 15 years. We thought it was a perfect opportunity for a global league like the NBA, and it fits our game perfectly. New traditions take time. But in the world of sports, we are witnessing new innovations, and now is the right time for this in-season NBA tournament
Adam Silver
What is it, when will it take place, and what are the prizes for the new NBA In-Season Tournament? Here’s everything you need to know about the new mid-season NBA tournament.
What is the Emirates NBA Cup?
The NBA In-Season Tournament, called the NBA Cup, is a new tournament format that will take place during the Regular Season and will include all 30 teams. Each franchise will play a series of games that will determine the eight teams that advance to the knockout phase, with the Final Four likely to be played on neutral ground in Las Vegas.
The tournament games will count towards the 82 games scheduled for the regular season, and only the two teams that reach the mid-season tournament final will end up playing 83 games.
There will be no pause for the tournament during the season, and when the eight teams advance to the knockout phase, the other 22 NBA teams will continue to play regular-season games.
When is the Emirates NBA Cup played?
The Emirates NBA Cup will begin on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and will conclude on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. The Final Four will take place between December 14 and 17 in Las Vegas, before NBA Christmas Day.
The group stage matches will be counted as regular-season games, with only the championship game not being considered a regular-season contest. The last two stages of the In-Season Tournament (semifinals and final) will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The NBA regular season for the 2024-2025 season will begin on October 22, 2024, and conclude on April 13, 2025.
Emirates NBA Cup Groups
As part of the announcement on July 9, 2024, the league also revealed the six groups consisting of five teams each – three composed of Eastern Conference teams and three composed of Western Conference opponents – that will make up the group stage of the tournament.
The Western Conference will be organized as follows:
Western Group
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Oklahoma City Thunder | Denver Nuggets |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Phoenix Suns | Dallas Mavericks |
| Sacramento Kings | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors |
| Houston Rockets | Utah Jazz | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Portland Trail Blazers | San Antonio Spurs | Memphis Grizzlies |
The Eastern Conference will be composed in the same way:
Eastern Group
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| New York Knicks | Milwaukee Bucks | Boston Celtics |
| Orlando Magic | Indiana Pacers | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Miami Heat | Chicago Bulls |
| Brooklyn Nets | Toronto Raptors | Atlanta Hawks |
| Charlotte Hornets | Detroit Pistons | Washington Wizars |
To create the groups, the NBA used a draw process similar to that of the World Cup, dividing each conference into five pots that were separated by last year’s regular-season standings.
Emirates NBA Cup Schedule
On August 14, 2024, the NBA revealed the schedule for its inaugural season tournament. The second edition of the Emirates NBA Cup begins on November 12, 2024.
The opening night of the tournament features a doubleheader on ESPN, with the Philadelphia 76ers facing the New York Knicks, followed by the Dallas Mavericks taking on the Golden State Warriors.
The defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers led by LeBron James, will make their debut on November 15 against the San Antonio Spurs, featuring Victor Wembanyama. The defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, will play against the Cavaliers on November 19.
You can find the full schedule here.
What is the prize for the Emirates NBA Cup?
Players who are part of the winning team of the NBA In-Season Tournament (NBA Cup) will receive a prize of $500,000 each, while players from the team that loses in the final will take home $200,000 each.
Players from the teams that lose in the semifinals will receive $100,000, while those from the teams eliminated in the quarterfinals will receive $50,000. However, although other incentive measures were discussed to motivate players and teams to invest in the tournament, such as guaranteeing the winner a playoff spot, the league ultimately decided not to implement such measures.
Where to watch the Emirates NBA Cup?
At the time of writing, it has not been announced by the NBA whether a special streaming/TV package will be created for this new event, but according to many insiders, it will be possible to watch the tournament with an NBA League Pass subscription, ESPN, TNT, YouTube TV.