The NBA Cup is set to kick off its second season, starting on Tuesday night and running through December 17. Previously known as the In-Season Tournament, this event was introduced last year at the behest of Commissioner Adam Silver, who sought to add an extra element to the regular season. All 30 NBA teams will participate, each playing four group-stage games.
Following the group stage, eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, with the winners progressing to the semifinals in Las Vegas on December 14. Notably, all tournament games, except for the championship game, will count towards the regular-season standings and statistics. The championship game is considered an additional fixture and does not factor into the 82-game season for the two final teams.
For the victorious team, the stakes are high, with pride, a trophy, and monetary rewards on the line. Each player on the winning team will receive $514,971, while players on the runner-up team will earn $205,988. Players from teams eliminated in the semifinals and quarterfinals will also receive monetary compensation.
The tournament is divided into several groups, with teams competing in a series of scheduled matchups. The East and West groups feature matchups between various NBA teams, with games taking place on specific dates throughout the tournament period.
Teams that are eliminated in the group stage or quarterfinals will have additional games added to their schedule. Despite the tournament games, all teams are slated to play 82 games in total during the regular season.
Distinctive courts have been set up for tournament games, making it easy for viewers to identify Cup matchups. Betting favorites for the NBA Cup include reigning champion Boston, followed by Cleveland, New York, and several other competitive teams.
Viewers can catch the action on TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV, with national doubleheaders and multiple games scheduled for broadcast on various dates. Local broadcasts will also be available for fans to follow their favorite teams throughout the tournament.
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