The Emirates NBA Cup is the newest and most exciting addition to the NBA calendar, and if you’re asking “What Is The Nba Cup?”, you’re in the right place. Introduced as an in-season tournament, the NBA Cup is designed to add a new layer of competition and excitement to the early part of the regular season. ESPN’s Richard Jefferson has highlighted the key aspects of this innovative tournament, making it easier for fans to understand and enjoy. This guide will break down everything you need to know about the Emirates NBA Cup 2024, from the group play stages to the high-stakes knockout rounds culminating in Las Vegas.
Understanding the Emirates NBA Cup Format
The Emirates NBA Cup 2024, the second annual edition of this thrilling competition, tipped off on Tuesday, November 12th. It’s structured into two main phases: Group Play and the Knockout Rounds. The tournament reaches its peak with the Semifinals on Saturday, December 14th, and the Championship game on Tuesday, December 17th, both hosted at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. For a detailed schedule, you can view the full schedule here.
Group Play Stage
All 30 NBA teams were randomly assigned into groups of five within their respective conferences (Eastern and Western). The groupings were determined based on team records from the 2023-24 regular season to ensure competitive balance. From Tuesday, November 12th, through Tuesday, December 3rd, teams participate in “Cup Nights,” playing four designated Group Play games. Each team faces every other team in its group once, playing two games at home and two on the road. These games are specifically branded and highlighted to distinguish the NBA Cup games.
Knockout Rounds: Semifinals and Championship
Following the Group Play, eight teams advance to the Knockout Rounds. These include the six group winners (one from each group) and two “wild card” teams from each conference. The wild card spots are awarded to the teams with the best Group Play records that finished second in their groups. The Knockout Rounds are a single-elimination tournament, starting with the Quarterfinals (held in NBA team markets on Tuesday, December 10th, and Wednesday, December 11th). Winning teams then proceed to the Semifinals and ultimately the Championship in Las Vegas. These knockout stage teams are not just competing for bragging rights but also a significant prize pool and the prestigious NBA Cup championship trophy.
It’s important to note that all 67 games in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds count towards the regular-season standings, with the exception of the Championship game. This means each team still plays a full 82-game regular season, with the NBA Cup games integrated into this schedule. Nationally televised games are a key component, with fourteen Group Play games and all seven Knockout Round games broadcast nationally. For broadcast details, click here to see full broadcast listings.
Deeper Dive into the Tournament Details
To further understand “what is the nba cup,” let’s explore the specifics of the tournament format.
Group Play Draw and Team Allocation
The Group Play stage begins with a strategic draw to determine team matchups. Within each conference, the 15 teams are divided into three groups of five through a random drawing process. ESPN unveiled these groups on Friday, July 12th, setting the stage for the tournament.
Teams are placed into five “pots” based on their prior regular season (2023-24) records. This seeding approach ensures a balanced distribution of team strengths across the groups. The pot system is structured as follows:
- Pot 1: Top three teams by record in each conference.
- Pot 2: Teams ranked 4th to 6th in each conference.
- Pot 3: Teams ranked 7th to 9th in each conference.
- Pot 4: Teams ranked 10th to 12th in each conference.
- Pot 5: Teams ranked 13th to 15th in each conference.
This system leads to the following group compositions for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup:
Western Conference Groups:
West Group A:
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- LA Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets
- Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B:
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- San Antonio Spurs
West Group C:
- Denver Nuggets
- Dallas Mavericks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
Eastern Conference Groups:
East Group A:
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
East Group B:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Detroit Pistons
East Group C:
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
Group Play Scheduling and Tiebreakers
“Cup Nights” are the heart of the Group Play stage, taking place every Tuesday and Friday from November 12th to December 3rd. Exclusively featuring Group Play games, these nights are designed to maximize focus on the tournament. A team’s performance in these four intraconference games determines their qualification for the Knockout Rounds.
Tiebreakers are in place to resolve any ties within groups, ensuring clear progression to the knockout stage. The tiebreakers, applied sequentially, are:
- Head-to-head record in Group Play games.
- Point differential in Group Play games.
- Total points scored in Group Play games.
- 2023-24 regular season record.
- Random drawing (as a last resort).
It’s worth noting that overtime scoring is excluded from point differential and total points tiebreakers. In games going to overtime, a team’s point differential is set to “0”, and total points scored exclude overtime points for tiebreaker calculations.
The eight knockout round teams are determined by the six group winners and two wild card teams (best second-place records). Wild card tiebreakers follow the same protocol as group tiebreakers, excluding head-to-head records. Group ties are resolved before wild card considerations.
Knockout Rounds: Path to the Championship
The Knockout Rounds are a high-stakes, single-elimination bracket for the eight qualifying teams, starting with Quarterfinals on December 10-11. Winners advance to the neutral-site Semifinals on December 14th and then the Championship on December 17th. Secure your seats now: Emirates NBA Cup Tickets) to witness the excitement live.
Quarterfinal and Semifinal games count towards regular-season records, maintaining competitive integrity. However, the Championship game stands alone, not affecting regular-season standings or statistics.
Quarterfinal hosting rights are given to the top two teams from each conference based on Group Play records, with the top seed hosting the wild card team. Tiebreakers for seeding follow the same protocol as earlier rounds.
For teams not in the Knockout Rounds, regular-season games are scheduled during the knockout phase (Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 15-16). These games are formulated based on Group Play standings, including some cross-conference matchups to balance schedules. Losing Quarterfinal teams also play each other in regular-season games during this period.
Prizes, Honors, and the Significance of the NBA Cup
The Emirates NBA Cup offers a prize pool for players on teams reaching the Knockout Rounds, with increasing rewards for advancing further in the tournament. Beyond financial incentives, individual accolades are also at stake. A media panel will select a Most Valuable Player of the competition and an All-Tournament Team, recognizing outstanding performances throughout both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
The NBA Cup represents more than just additional games; it’s a chance for teams to compete for an early-season trophy, adding prestige and excitement to the November and December schedule. For fans asking “what is the nba cup?”, it’s an innovative tournament designed to elevate the regular season, create thrilling matchups, and crown an in-season champion.
