The Emirates NBA Cup is the NBA’s in-season tournament that features all 30 teams competing in a structured format during the regular season. Introduced a few years ago, the competition gives teams another trophy to pursue while raising the stakes for early-season matchups.
The 2025 edition begins on October 31, 2025, and concludes with the championship on December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. Every Emirates NBA Cup game counts toward each team’s regular season record, except for the final game.
West Group C stands out as one of the toughest brackets, including heavyweight teams like the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Denver Nuggets — all ranked among the top seven last season. Challenging them are the San Antonio Spurs, who began the season 5–1 under the leadership of 7’5” sensation Victor Wembanyama, and the Portland Trail Blazers, driven by Israeli standout Deni Avdija.
“All NBA Cup matches are included in a team’s regular season record, except for the championship game.”
The 2025 Emirates NBA Cup elevates early-season play with all 30 teams chasing a midseason title, highlighting new rivalries and rising NBA stars in a Las Vegas showcase.