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
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Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.