The NBA Cup is an in-season competition that runs concurrently with the regular season and consists of two main phases: group play and knockout rounds. Key elements
- Format: The league splits all 30 teams into six groups of five teams each, usually based on previous-season records to balance groups. Each team plays four group games—one against each of the other teams in its group, two at home and two on the road. These group games also count toward the regular-season standings.
- Advancement: From each group, the group winner advances to the knockout rounds, along with the best-performing runner-up from each conference. In total, eight teams reach the knockout stage.
- Knockout rounds: The knockout phase is single-elimination, culminating in a championship game held at a neutral or designated venue. Quarterfinals and semifinals are typically played in specific NBA markets, with the final set at a designated location.
- Scheduling and venues: Group play occurs on designated group nights spread across the early portion of the season, with knockout games staged at neutral sites or NBA-host venues as announced.
Why it matters
- The group phase contributes to both the Cup standings and regular-season records, meaning performance in these games affects both competition tracks.
- The event adds a distinct bracket-style, tournament atmosphere mid-season, similar in spirit to international in-season tournaments.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to the current season’s exact group structure, dates, and the knockout bracket.
