The National Basketball Association has officially released the complete schedule and group draw for the third annual NBA Cup, the league`s popular in-season tournament set for 2025. This announcement provides clarity on the path to the coveted trophy, confirming key dates and locations. The Cup structure is now a familiar element of the early NBA calendar, adding a competitive layer to the regular season before the traditional playoffs take center stage. The unveiling of the tournament framework arrived alongside other notable developments impacting individual players around the league.
2025 NBA Cup Format and Schedule Confirmed
The 2025 NBA Cup is structured in two distinct phases: a group stage followed by a knockout round. The group stage competition is scheduled to commence on October 31st and conclude on November 28th, with all regular-season games played during this window also counting towards the Cup standings.
Following the group play, the tournament transitions to single-elimination. The Quarterfinals are slated for December 9th and 10th. The winners will then advance to the Final Four, which will be held in Las Vegas. The Semifinals will take place on December 13th, culminating in the Championship Game on December 16th. The Milwaukee Bucks enter as the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in the second edition, while the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the inaugural title two years prior.
The 2025 NBA Cup Group Draw
The 30 NBA teams have been divided into six groups, three in the Eastern Conference and three in the Western Conference. Each group consists of five teams. Advancement to the knockout stage is straightforward but competitive: the six group winners automatically qualify, and they are joined by the best second-place team from each conference, creating an eight-team bracket for the quarterfinals.
Here is the breakdown of the 2025 NBA Cup groups:
Eastern Conference:
- Group A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
- Group B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
- Group C: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference:
- Group A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
- Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans
- Group C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
Holmgren Secures Lucrative Extension with Thunder
In significant player news, Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren has reportedly agreed to a substantial contract extension. The 23-year-old, who was the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is set to sign a five-year deal potentially worth up to $250 million. This figure represents a major commitment from the Thunder to a cornerstone of their young core.
The sum is, by any standard, immense, particularly considering Holmgren missed his entire initial NBA season due to injury and is still developing. While his playoff performance last season showed flashes of his capabilities, averaging 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds, the contract is clearly a bet on his significant future potential and a reflection of the current market rate for high-upside young players. The Thunder recently secured franchise star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with an even larger extension (four years, $285 million through 2031) and are reportedly prioritizing locking up other key players like Jalen Williams. OKC`s strategy is evident: retain their successful young group at market value, even if that value appears astronomical compared to production to date. The league`s financial landscape dictates these eye-watering figures for players perceived to have elite ceiling, and the Thunder, clearly believing in Holmgren`s trajectory, have paid accordingly.
Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Sentenced to Prison
In sobering news away from the court, former NBA guard Ben McLemore has been sentenced to over eight years in state prison. The 32-year-old received the sentence following a conviction for first-degree rape and other related charges stemming from an incident in October 2021. The crime occurred at a gathering at the Lake Oswego, Oregon, home of Robert Covington, who was McLemore`s teammate on the Portland Trail Blazers at the time. The victim was identified as a 23-year-old woman.
McLemore, the seventh overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas University, played nine seasons in the NBA for five different teams, including the Sacramento Kings (where he averaged a career-high 12.1 points in his second year), Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. He last played in the league in 2022 before stints overseas in China, Greece, and Spain. McLemore has reportedly maintained his innocence regarding the charges.
