NBA Cup 2025 Groups, Dates, Format Revealed for In-Season Tournament

The NBA announced the six groups of teams for the NBA Cup later this year.

As part of group play, each team will play four games. Cup games will begin on Oct. 31 and run through Nov. 28:

After pool play wraps up in late November, the knockout rounds will tip off with the quarterfinals on Dec. 9 and 10. In addition to the group winners, the second-place team with the highest point differential from each conference moves on.

Las Vegas will once again host the final two rounds, with the semifinals on Dec. 13 and the championship game on Dec. 16.

The Milwaukee Bucks enter as the defending champions. Their odds of a repeat hinge squarely on the status of star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported in May the two-time MVP was "open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee." Ramona Shelburne of ESPN said that she senses a final decision may not come until August or September.

Even assuming Antetokounmpo stays, the Bucks will have a tricky group with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat each shaping up to be formidable challengers.

The most interesting quintet is arguably Group B in the West.

The New Orleans Pelicans are the weakest of the five teams on paper, but you can at least talk yourself into the idea of Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson combining to spark some upsets.

You also get a battle for Los Angeles with the Clippers and Lakers matching up. The Mavs' Anthony Davis returns to L.A., while Lakers star Luka Dončić faces off with his old team again. Pitting the first two picks from the 2019 NBA draft (Williamson and Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant) against one another will be fun.

There are plenty of subplots to follow within just that one group.