The NBA Cup returns for its second season this week, bringing an exciting twist to the 2024-2025 NBA season.

After its debut last year, the in-season tournament—designed to add extra drama and competition to the regular season—will run through December 17.

Here’s everything you need to know, from the tournament format to how to watch the action unfold.

What Is the NBA Cup?

The NBA Cup is an in-season tournament involving all 30 NBA teams.

The format is similar to a World Cup-style group stage, followed by knockout rounds. Teams are divided into six groups—three for the Eastern Conference and three for the Western Conference—and will play a series of round-robin games.

At the conclusion of the group stage, the top eight teams advance to the knockout stage, which includes the quarterfinals and semifinals, culminating in the championship game on December 14 in Las Vegas.

One key aspect of the tournament: While all group-stage and quarterfinal games count toward a team’s regular-season record and statistics, the championship game is an “extra” game and does not impact the teams’ official 82-game season totals.

What’s at Stake?

While the NBA Cup offers more than just a trophy, it also provides substantial cash prizes for the players.

The winning team will earn a monetary reward, with each player on the championship team receiving $514,971.

The runners-up will take home $205,988 each, while those eliminated in the semifinals will earn $102,994. Players knocked out in the quarterfinals will get $51,497.

Group Stages and Schedule Breakdown

The tournament is divided into six groups, with five teams in each group. Below is a breakdown of the teams in each group, along with their key matchups in the group stage:

Eastern Conference

• Group A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
  Key games: New York vs. Philadelphia (Nov. 12), Brooklyn vs. New York (Nov. 15)
• Group B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
  Key games: Miami vs. Detroit (Nov. 12), Toronto vs. Milwaukee (Nov. 12)
• Group C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards
  Key games: Atlanta vs. Boston (Nov. 12), Chicago vs. Cleveland (Nov. 15)

Western Conference

• Group A: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
  Key games: Minnesota vs. Portland (Nov. 12), LA Clippers vs. Houston (Nov. 15)
• Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
  Key games: Phoenix vs. Utah (Nov. 12), LA Lakers vs. San Antonio (Nov. 15)
• Group C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
  Key games: Dallas vs. Golden State (Nov. 12), Denver vs. New Orleans (Nov. 15)

How the Tournament Works

The group stage will consist of four games per team, with matchups spread across Tuesdays and Fridays.

After the group stage, the eight teams with the best records advance to the quarterfinals, with the winners moving on to Las Vegas for the semifinals and final.

While not every game in the tournament is a Cup game, identifying a Cup matchup is simple: all tournament games will be played on special, distinct courts.

This will help fans easily identify when their team is in action during the tournament.

Additional Games for Eliminated Teams

For teams that fail to make it past the group stage, the tournament will still add extra games to their schedule.

Eliminated teams will play two additional games, while those ousted in the quarterfinals will have one extra game added.

This brings each team’s total to 82 regular-season games, with the championship game being treated as a bonus game that doesn’t count toward the regular season record.

Betting Odds and Tournament Favorites

Heading into the NBA Cup, the Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the tournament, with odds of +400 according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Other contenders include the Cleveland Cavaliers (+700), New York Knicks (+800), and a group of teams at +1200, including Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Denver, and Golden State.

The defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, are currently listed at +1400.

How to Watch the NBA Cup

Fans can catch the tournament action on national television. TNT will air doubleheaders on Tuesday evenings, while ESPN will broadcast games on Friday evenings.

The coverage will include multiple games on November 29, where ESPN and NBA TV will show five games throughout the day, starting at noon and continuing through 10 p.m.

Local broadcasts will also be available for those following their home teams.

A New Twist to the NBA Season

The NBA Cup adds a thrilling layer of competition to the regular season, and with substantial prizes on the line, expect plenty of intensity.

The group stage is already underway, and fans will want to tune in to see which teams rise to the occasion and which stars shine brightest in this unique in-season tournament.

For the latest updates, tune into NBA broadcasts and follow along with the excitement as teams battle for NBA Cup glory.