History of NBA Cup in Timeline

The NBA Cup, officially named the In-Season Tournament for its inaugural 2023-24 season, is a new annual tournament held during the NBA regular season. Announced on July 8, 2023, it adds an extra layer of competition and excitement to the usual NBA schedule. The tournament provides all teams a chance to win the NBA Cup during the regular season.

July 6, 2023: NBA Announces First In-Season Tournament

On July 6, 2023, the NBA announced it would hold the first in-season tournament from November 3 to December 9.

July 8, 2023: NBA Cup Tournament Announcement

On July 8, 2023, the National Basketball Association (NBA) officially announced the creation of the NBA Cup, an annual tournament to be held during the regular season. The inaugural edition of the tournament was named the In-Season Tournament.

2023: NBA Cup Broadcast Schedule

In 2023, TNT and ESPN aired Group Stage games as part of their regular Tuesday and Friday night coverage, respectively. NBA TV also aired Black Friday games. TNT then aired most quarterfinal games, with the exception of one game on ESPN.

February 2, 2024: Emirates and NBA Announce Partnership

On February 2, 2024, Emirates, a Middle Eastern airline company, announced a multi-year deal with the NBA, including the naming rights of the NBA Cup.

December 13, 2024: Refugees International Urges NBA to Suspend Partnership with UAE

On December 13, 2024, Refugees International urged the NBA to suspend its partnership with the UAE due to its role in inciting the Sudanese civil war, suggesting the NBA should reevaluate its partnership with Emirates.

December 17, 2024: Milwaukee Bucks win the 2024 NBA Cup

On December 17, 2024, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the second NBA Cup championship game. The semifinals and championship were hosted at T-Mobile Arena for the second consecutive year.

2024: NBA Cup Broadcast Schedule

In 2024, TNT and ESPN aired Group Stage games as part of their regular Tuesday and Friday night coverage, respectively. TNT then aired most quarterfinal games, with the exception of one game on ESPN. ABC aired the championship game.

2025: NBA Cup Broadcast Changes

Beginning with the 2025 Cup, Prime Video will air the majority of group play games, with the majority of these games moved to Friday evenings. A limited number of Tuesday night games will air on NBC or Peacock, while a limited number of Wednesday night games will air on ESPN. All knockout round games will air on Prime Video.

2026: NBA Cup Semifinal Round Location Change

Starting with the 2026 NBA Cup, semifinal round games will be held at the home arena of each conference's higher-seeded team. The final round will still be played at a neutral site.