when is the nba cup
The NBA’s in-season tournament, now branded the Emirates NBA Cup , is played during the regular season with group games in November and the final typically in mid-December each year. For the 2025–26 season, cup play starts on October 31, 2025, with the championship scheduled for December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas.
Quick Scoop
- The NBA Cup is not a separate postseason; it runs inside the regular season schedule.
- Group-stage “Cup Nights” take place on selected dates in November, and those games count in the regular-season standings.
- The knockout rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, final) are held in December, with the semifinals and final at a neutral site in Las Vegas.
Key 2025–26 NBA Cup Dates
- Group play begins: October 31, 2025.
- Group play ends: November 28, 2025.
- Knockout quarterfinals: early December (league key dates list them in mid-December windows alongside other events).
- Semifinals: December 13, 2025, in Las Vegas.
- Championship game: December 16, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
What Exactly Is the NBA Cup?
- It is the NBA’s in-season tournament, introduced to add a European-soccer-style cup vibe and extra stakes to early-season games.
- Teams are placed into groups by conference; they play designated group games, then advance to an 8-team knockout bracket if they qualify.
- Players and teams win financial bonuses and a trophy, but the tournament does not replace the NBA Finals or Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Recent Trends and Discussion
- The tournament has become a regular talking point each fall, especially around the flashy alternate courts used exclusively for Cup games.
- Some fans and commentators argue the format and stakes should be tweaked (for example, tying it to draft benefits) to boost how much people care.
- Ratings and buzz have generally improved compared with the earliest version of the in-season tournament, helped by concentrated “Cup Nights” and knockout tension.
At-a-Glance Timing Table
| Stage | Typical Timing | 2025–26 Specific Date |
|---|---|---|
| Group play starts | Late October or early November | October 31, 2025 |
| Group play ends | Late November | November 28, 2025 |
| Quarterfinals | Early–mid December | Mid-December 2025 (exact dates in league key-dates calendar) |
| Semifinals | Mid December | December 13, 2025 |
| Championship | Mid December | December 16, 2025 |
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.