With Amazon and NBC acquiring the league’s broadcasting rights starting from the 2025-2026 season, some adjustments may be necessary. One significant change could be the rescheduling of the Emirates NBA Cup, widely known as the in-season tournament.
Recent reports suggest that the tournament, which typically begins in mid-November, will be moved to early December, extending over five weeks. This change is primarily due to Amazon’s coverage of NFL games. To avoid overlapping schedules, the NBA and Amazon might agree on this new timeline.
The NBA Cup tournament has seen a surge in popularity, as evidenced by last year’s viewership when the Lakers emerged victorious. This year could also see a similar increase in views following the competition’s rebranding.
The schedule for the second year of the NBA Cup has already been released. The exciting tournament will start on November 12, with the champions being crowned on December 17.
Details of the NBA Cup Tournament
The 30 NBA teams will be divided into six groups based on their previous regular season performance. Three of these groups will consist of Eastern Conference teams, while the remaining three will comprise Western Conference teams.
Each NBA team will play four games in the group stage. Teams with the highest points will advance to the next round. The quarter-finals will feature eight teams competing on December 10 and 11 to qualify for the semifinals on December 14. The winners from each side will then face off in the finals for the prestigious trophy on December 17.
Group stage games for the NBA Cup will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Regardless of their position in the seasonal league standings, all teams will have an equal opportunity to claim the title.