The 2026 NBA Cup begins Friday, Oct. 30, with all 30 NBA teams competing in Group Play. The tournament concludes Friday, Dec. 11, with the championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Each team will play four Group Play games. Eight teams advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds: the six group winners and one wild card from each conference.

Here’s how Nick Wright breaks down the league tiers entering Week 1 of the preseason.

Each team plays the other four teams in its group once. The six group winners advance, along with the best second-place team from each conference. Point differential is the first tiebreaker after head-to-head results among tied teams.

All Group Play, quarterfinal and semifinal games count toward the 82-game regular-season schedule. The championship does not count as a regular-season game.

The 2026 NBA Cup championship will be played Friday, Dec. 11, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in NBA team markets.

The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the championship game. Jalen Brunson was named NBA Cup MVP. The Knicks later became the first team to win the NBA Cup and NBA championship in the same season.

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