The Emirates NBA Cup is the NBA’s in-season tournament, involving all 30 teams in a structured competition during the regular season. Introduced a few years ago, it provides teams with a new trophy to pursue and brings more intense competition to early-season games.
The 2025 tournament kicks off on October 31, 2025, with the championship game scheduled for December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas.
All NBA Cup games count toward a team’s regular season record, except for the championship game.
West Group C features the toughest competition, with last season’s top 7 teams including the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Denver Nuggets. The San Antonio Spurs, starting strong at 5-1 led by the 7’5” phenom Victor Wembanyama, and the Portland Trailblazers, featuring Israeli star Deni Avdija, are set to challenge the established powerhouses, making this group highly competitive and exciting.
“With their 5-1 start led by 7’5 alien Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs, along with Portland’s Israeli star Deni Avdija, will surely challenge last year’s top teams.”
Fans can expect a thrilling and rigorous contest as these teams vie for the NBA Cup.
The Emirates NBA Cup intensifies early NBA action by introducing a prestigious in-season tournament with full team participation and playoff-like stakes, climaxing in December’s Las Vegas final.