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The Emirates NBA Cup is now back for its thrilling second year! This guide will break down everything you need to know about the tournament’s format, groups, and standout features.
What Is the NBA Cup?
The Emirates NBA Cup is an innovative twist on the regular NBA schedule, offering fans a major boost in excitement during the early part of the basketball season when engagement has traditionally dipped.
This tournament takes place within the regular season and involves all 30 NBA teams vying for the championship title. The structure is designed not only to intensify the competition but also to provide fresh opportunities for revenue generation for the league.
In its inaugural year, the tournament saw the Los Angeles Lakers emerge victorious over the Indiana Pacers in the finals, creating a memorable highlight in a mid-season schedule.
The competition kicked off on November 12 and culminated with the championship on December 17. Significantly, all NBA Cup games except the final contribute to the team’s regular-season records, ensuring that every play has meaningful repercussions.
The high-stakes “Final Four” will take place at the electrifying T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 14, promising fans a hub of energy and thrill.
The NBA Cup is in full swing right now, and the Celtics, Knicks, Warriors, and Cavaliers are all making a big push to reach the Finals. Although the Celtics have the best odds to win NBA Cup, every team still has a fighting chance, and nothing is set in stone.
What’s the Emirates NBA Cup Format?
The tournament is organized into six pools, each comprising five teams that share the same conference, though not necessarily the same division. Teams engage in four group games, facing every team in their pool once.
Winning a pool comes with added stakes: a ticket to the single-elimination knockout stage. Eight teams will proceed: the six pool winners and two wild cards. Wild cards are determined based on performance, ensuring deserving teams get a shot at glory.
In terms of scheduling, each NBA team initially gears up for 80 regular-season games. Teams not qualifying for the knockout rounds see their schedules expanded by two additional games. For those pushing forward, competing in the championship requires a total of 83 games, with the tournament games contributing crucial statistics to their season record—except, of course, for the high-stakes final.
This unique format ensures every dribble, shot, and pass holds a tangible impact, making the Emirates NBA Cup a transformative fixture in the NBA landscape that fans won't want to miss.
How Were the Groups Determined?
Before the group play began, a group play draw took place on Friday, July 12. This exciting event determined the match-ups that fans would look forward to in the upcoming Emirates NBA Cup. The 30 NBA teams were strategically placed into “pots” based on their performance during the prior 2023-24 regular season, setting the stage for a dynamic mix of teams.
Each conference contained five pots: Pot 1 featured teams with the top three records, while Pot 2 included those with the 4th-6th best records. This pattern continued through five pots, ensuring both competitiveness and unpredictability in each group. By selecting one team from each pot to create the three groups per conference, the tournament organizers maintained a balance of talent and competitiveness, promising fans a series of exhilarating matchups.
NBA Cup Tiebreaker Rules
1. Head-to-head in the group stage
2. Point Differential in the group stage
3. Total Points in the group stage
4. Last Season's Regular Season record
What's the Prize?
Each player in the team that advances to the Knockout Rounds earns prize money, with amounts increasing as they progress deeper into the tournament.
Besides the monetary rewards, an MVP award, chosen by the media, and an all-tournament team selection recognize standout performances throughout Group Play and the Knockouts, adding prestige and acknowledgment to individual successes.
