NBA Unveils Groups For 2025-26 Season's NBA Cup
The 2024-25 NBA season has been over for a few weeks, with the Oklahoma City Thunder being crowned the winners, but don't forget about the other champs.
Earlier in the campaign, the Milwaukee Bucks won the second annual in-season Emirates NBA Cup, and now, the league has announced the groups for the 2025 re-up.
Sticking with the defending champs, they'll be going up against the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Miami Heat. It'll be tough for the Bucks to run it back with some major roster changes, like the absence of Damian Lillard, picking up Myles Turner, and the uncertain future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The in-season competition tips off Oct. 31 with group play continuing through Nov. 28. Then, the quarterfinals will be Dec. 9 and 10, and the semifinals will soon follow on Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. Finally, the championship game will also be held in Vegas on Dec. 16, and while it will be highly competitive, it won't count towards either team's regular season record or statistics.
For a quick explainer on the workings of the, Cup each group is made up of five teams from the same conference, randomly drawn based on their standings from last season. During group play, each team will play one game against each of the other four teams in their group. The teams that finish with the best record in each group qualify for the Knockouts. Then they're joined by two wild-card teams, which are the second-best performing group-play teams from each conference.
The schedule will be released later this summer, in August, alongside the regular season schedule. However, you can check out the rest of the groups below.
East Group A – Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
East Group B – Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
East Group C – Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets
West Group A – Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
West Group B – L.A. Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans
West Group C – Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs.
SEE ALSO
NBA Unveils Groups For 2025-26 Season's NBA Cup was originally published on cassiuslife.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mickell Gladness on why playing with Klay as a center was so great: "You had guys coming, stepping out to him"
Mickell Gladness on why playing with Klay as a center was so great: "You had guys coming, stepping out to him" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Back in 2012, the Golden State Warriors were an organization in a mess and without a winning culture. Their turnaround and the the creation of the latest NBA dynasty with four championships in the span between 2015 and 2022 is one that rare people predicted. Advertisement For Mickel Gladness, who played 18 games for the Dubs at the end of the 2011-2012 season while trying to earn his spot in the NBA, the crumbs were there. Golden State evidently had something special in their hands with the two sharpshooters. In an exclusive interview with Basketball Network, Mickell shared his experience with the Warriors, seeing Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson be elite shooters even then, and explaining why playing with a guy like Klay was amazing for an athletic big man like himself. "You heard the buzz, and you saw the buzz around Steph Curry. But with Klay, yes, for sure I mean, on the other hand, I can see Steph practicing stuff, as he tried to come back for a couple of games and his ankle wasn't healing properly, so he had to leave again," Gladness started. "But with Klay, we ran a lot of floppy sets, a lot of I screened down for him, he comes out. That made it so much easier because I can see like I knew he was gonna get that shot off, and a lot of times he made it, but it also made it easier for me, because even when he made those shots and he was on automatically, then you had guys coming, stepping out to him and guys like trying to cheat and deny the pass, and that opened it wide open for me. So I saw it firsthand because it directly affected me when I set screens for him," Mickell explained. Advertisement Klay over Steph The duo would turn into the so-called Splash Brothers and take over the NBA shortly after that. Steph became notorious for his long-range ability and the many ways he could create his shot and knock down off-balance bombs from anywhere on the court. On the other hand, Klay profiled himself as the most elite stand-still shooter in the league and someone with the prettiest jump-shot in the NBA. Thompson needed no dribbles to get his shots off, as the ability to get open and launch it quickly allowed him to be a lethal scorer without any need for creating his own space. It raised many debates about who the better shooter was, as Gladness had no doubts about his pick. Advertisement "Just pure shooting. No, we're not talking about off the dribble like none of that. Klay sure, yeah," he shared his choice. Related: "After much consideration, I am now prepared to rule" - When Utah judge ruled Michael Jordan pushed off in his final shot in '98 Grabbing the opportunity As for Gladness, he would finally get some real minutes in the NBA, even starting in seven of those 18 games with the Warriors. While they were out of playoff contention and missing some critical pieces like Curry, Mickell didn't waste time as he proved he could play on the NBA level. "And then you go to Mark Jackson and the Golden State Warriors, and we want to see what you can do. We have guys injured. Here's your chance. And I was always told that when you are prepared and the opportunity comes, that's when things kind of come together," Gladness concluded. Advertisement The center averaged 3.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 12.4 minutes per game, showcasing his ability to finish around the paint and protect the rim. It was an enjoyable experience for Mickell, and playing with a rookie Klay made it even easier. While he wouldn't earn another NBA contract, Gladness would use his experience there to build an impressive international career and play all over the world. Related: "People waiting 3:00 in the morning after we got off" - Mickell Gladness on how surreal it felt playing for the 'Big 3' Heat This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"He got mad" - Mickel Gladness recalls blocking Andrew Bynum's shot
"He got mad" - Mickel Gladness recalls blocking Andrew Bynum's shot originally appeared on Basketball Network. Playing in the NBA is no easy feat, as every night you could go up against all-time greats and stars who are at the top of their field. For former center Mickell Gladness, who managed to play only one season in the NBA and appear in 26 games, he used that time to test his chops against the best. Advertisement Gladness reminisced on his NBA days with the Golden State Warriors in an exclusive chat with Basketball Network. Mickell would start in seven games and get some minutes in hopes of securing a contract, as he wanted to make every moment count. As he was known as a prolific shot-blocker, we asked Gladness if he managed to swat any big names during that time. Mickell named one of the best big men in the league at the time, Los Angeles Laker center Andrew Bynum. "I think Andrew Bynum, I blocked his shot once. He got mad. There were a few," Gladness shared. It went both ways During the 2011-2012 season, in which this happened, Bynum was arguably the best big man in the game alongside Dwight Howard. AB would earn his first and only All-Star selection and be named to the All-NBA Second Team after averaging 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Advertisement However, Gladness never shied away from his matchups, and Andrew was no exception. He managed to swat his shot and apparently rile up the Purple & Gold big man, which was no small feat for an undrafted center trying to find his place under the NBA sun. Funnily enough, Mickell also remembered one of his lowlights. In a clash against the San Antonio Spurs and the legendary Tim Duncan, Gladness got his shot swatted by TD. While it was embarrassing at the moment, he appreciates the experience when looking back. "I mean, of course, you got Tim Duncan that can barely get off the floor, and he end up blocking one of my hook shots, but it was a great league. It was a great, great memories," Mickell admitted. Related: "All those muscles aren't gonna help you tonight" - Kevin McHale recalls when Bird trash-talked young and overly-muscular Anthony Mason The mind of a shot-blocker While Gladness didn't manage to carve out a long NBA career, his name has a special place in basketball's record books. To this day, Mickell is the all-time leader for most blocks in a single game in NCAA history, swatting 16 shots in Alabama A&M's victory over Texas Southern in 2007. Advertisement Gladness also led the nation in blocks during his junior season, with 6.3 rejections per night, establishing himself as the most elite rim protector on the college level. Mickell shared what went into his mindset as a prideful and capable shot-blocker. "As a shot blocker, I know people, offensive guys, they like to see their shot going in. When it goes in, it's like the goal opens up. Me, as a shot blocker, once I get a couple blocks, especially if I don't have any fouls, that's the game I want. You know what I'm saying? When I start seeing guys come in the lane and then turn around or throw up a shot, really high-arching shot, and miss, that's where I want you to be then," the big man explained his mindset when it came to defending the rim. While the NBA journey lasted only one season, Gladness carved out a long and great international career that took him all over the world. The experiences of going up against the likes of Bynum and Duncan only helped Mickell thrive in his own lane. Related: Mickell Gladness on why playing with Klay as a center was so great: "You had guys coming, stepping out to him" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chris Collins' former Northwestern star is making Summer League history with Oklahoma City
When the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder selected him in the second round June 26, Brooks Barnhizer made Northwestern basketball history as the first Wildcat to be drafted since 1999. Less than three weeks later, he's making history as the first player ever to average over six steals in consecutive appearances in the NBA Summer League. Barnhizer and the Thunder are 2-0 so far. The guard recorded six points, seven rebounds and seven steals as the Thunder beat the Nets July 10, 90-81. In a pseudo-championship rematch Saturday, Oklahoma City beat Indiana 104-85, with Barnhizer adding 17 points, five rebounds and six steals. Advertisement Thirteen steals, with only three fouls. On a two-way contract with Oklahoma City, the former Northwestern star's 6.5 steals per game lead the Summer League. He currently averages two more steals than Golden State's Alex Toohey (4.5), though Toohey was sidelined in the Warriors' first two games and has only played in one contest so far. It's a big improvement from his stealing performance last season as a Wildcat, averaging 2.3 per game. Barnhizer's point production over two Summer League matches is inconsistent, but he maintained a 17.1 average at Northwestern, so it's likely he's just finding his footing on a new stage. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Advertisement Luckily for Barnhizer, the Thunder don't seem to have any issues making baskets. Against the Nets, Oklahoma City relied on guards Ajay Mitchell (20 points) and Chris Youngblood (19 points), as well as forward Nikola Topic (18 points). In the Pacers match, Youngblood (21 points), Barnhizer and Jazian Gortman (17 points each), Malevy Leons (16 points) and Mitchell (13 points) all were key factors to a Thunder victory. Oklahoma City will face the Orlando Magic Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed nationally on NBA TV and FanDuel Sports.
