You know that feeling when the NBA season is just settling in, and suddenly every Tuesday night feels like a Game 7? That’s the magic of the NBA Cup. If you've been asking yourself when does the nba in season tournament start, the answer is actually right in the thick of the early-season grind.
For the 2025-2026 season, the action kicked off on October 31, 2025.
It’s not just some mid-season exhibition. These games actually count toward the regular-season standings, which is why players like Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play like their lives depend on it. This year, the tournament—officially branded as the Emirates NBA Cup—wrapped up its championship game on December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas.
When Does the NBA In-Season Tournament Start Each Year?
The league has settled into a pretty predictable rhythm with this thing. Generally, you can expect the "Cup Nights" to begin in late October or the very first week of November.
In 2025, the schedule looked like this:
- Group Stage: October 31 through November 28.
- Quarterfinals: December 9 and 10.
- Semifinals: December 13.
- Championship: December 16.
Honestly, the "start" is the most important part because that's when the "Cup Courts" come out. You’ve seen them—those bright, sometimes controversial, painted floors that let you know immediately you aren't watching a standard Tuesday night game between the Pistons and the Hornets.
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Why October 31 Was the Magic Date
The NBA chose Halloween for the 2025 tip-off. Bold move. It basically serves as a signal to the fans that the "feeling out" period of the season is over. By the time the tournament starts, teams have played about five or six games. They’ve figured out their rotations. The rookies have stopped shaking. It's the perfect time to inject some real stakes into the calendar.
How the Schedule Actually Works
It’s kinda complicated if you’re just looking at a random calendar. The NBA doesn't just stop everything for the Cup. Instead, they bake the tournament games right into the 82-game schedule.
Basically, every team is randomly drawn into a group of five within their conference. They play one game against each of the other four teams in their group. Those four games are the "Group Play" matches. They happen on designated "Cup Nights," which are usually Tuesdays and Fridays.
Important Detail: If you're looking at the standings in November, those Cup wins are also regular-season wins. It’s a two-for-one deal for the teams.
The Vegas Finish Line
Once group play ends in late November, the top eight teams move to the Knockout Rounds. This is where it gets spicy. The Quarterfinals happen at home arenas, but the Semifinals and the Championship game always migrate to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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This year, the New York Knicks took home the trophy after a wild final against the San Antonio Spurs. Jalen Brunson grabbed the MVP, proving that the tournament is a massive stage for stars to cement their legacy early in the year.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Timing
People often think the tournament is its own separate thing that happens after the season starts. Well, technically it is, but it’s so integrated that if you aren't paying attention to the calendar, you’ll miss the start entirely.
There's a common misconception that the tournament takes place during the All-Star break. Nope. All-Star is in February. The NBA Cup is all about the pre-Christmas excitement. By the time you're eating your holiday dinner, the NBA Cup is already over, and the trophy is sitting in someone's case.
Why the Start Date Matters for Your Team
If your team starts slow—say, 1-6 in October—the start of the NBA Cup is a nightmare. There is no time to "find yourself" when tournament play begins. Because the group stage is only four games, one bad night can basically eliminate a team from winning the prize money.
And let's talk about that money. Each player on the winning team took home $514,971 this year. For a superstar making $50 million, that might be "dinner money," but for the guy at the end of the bench on a two-way contract? That’s life-changing. That’s why you see so much hustle on these nights.
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Key Dates to Remember for the Rest of the Season
Since the tournament is already in the books for 2025, you should keep an eye on these upcoming milestones:
- January 15 & 18, 2026: The NBA International Games in Berlin and London.
- February 13-15, 2026: All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
- April 12, 2026: The Regular Season officially ends.
- April 14-17, 2026: The Play-In Tournament.
Final Actionable Insights
If you're planning your NBA viewing for next year or just trying to keep up with the current 2025-2026 flow, here is what you need to do:
- Mark your calendar for late October 2026. Expect the next NBA Cup to start right around the same time.
- Watch the Tuesday/Friday schedule. These are the primary "Cup Nights."
- Track Point Differential. In the tournament, how much you win by actually matters for tiebreakers. You'll see teams shooting three-pointers even when they're up by 20 points late in the game—don't be offended, they're just trying to advance!
- Check the Courts. If the floor is a solid color with a giant trophy in the middle, you’re watching a tournament game.
The NBA in-season tournament has successfully turned the "boring" part of the season into a sprint. Keep your eyes on the schedule in October so you don't miss the tip-off next time around.
Next Steps for Fans:
Log into your favorite sports app and filter for "NBA Cup" results to see how your team fared in the group stages. If you're looking to attend a game next year, tickets for Cup Nights usually go on sale along with the general schedule release in August. Make sure to look for those specific "Tuesday/Friday" home games if you want to see the special tournament atmosphere in person.