2025 NBA Cup groups announced: Which are easiest, hardest?
The league announced the results of the group stage draw on Wednesday, July 9, setting three groups per conference, with five teams in each group. The drawing was made at random, based on win-loss record.
Formerly known as the in-season tournament, the NBA Cup will begin Friday, Oct. 31, 10 days after the start of the 2025-26 regular season.
The NBA made the announcement in a video with former NBA player and Amazon analyst Blake Griffin and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren; Amazon Prime will air 66 games next season, including all from the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.
Here's everything you need to know about the NBA Cup's group stage.
NBA Cup groups
How does the group stage in the NBA Cup work?
Group stage games will take place on designated NBA Cup nights from Oct. 31 through Nov. 28.
Each squad will play one game against each of the opponents in its group. The six group stage winners will advance, as will a wild card team from each conference; wild card teams are set based on winning percentage and certain tiebreakers.
From there, the teams will play in single-elimination knockout rounds.
The semifinals and finals will take place Saturday, Dec. 13 and Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Las Vegas.
Easiest group in the NBA Cup
It's between West A and East A, but because West A has both teams that made conference final appearances, the nod goes to East A.
The Cavaliers are a formidable threat for an NBA title after winning 64 games last season, best in the conference. The Hawks are much improved after a stellar offseason, though they are still largely unproven.
The Wizards are in a full rebuild. The Raptors could surprise with full health, but are still likely a few pieces away from contention. The Pacers will be without star guard Tyrese Haliburton and former center Myles Turner, who signed with the Bucks.
Hardest group in the NBA Cup
West C is stacked.
The Nuggets, Warriors and Rockets were each playoff teams, but Houston retooled and added Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade as it gears up for championship contention. Denver also improved with its trade for Cameron Johnson, while the Warriors are going to try to make another run at a title with a full season of Jimmy Butler in the Bay Area.
The San Antonio Spurs won just 34 games last season, but they faced injury issues and are a potential breakout team, with Victor Wembanyama entering his third season. The Trail Blazers are the weakest team in the group, though they improved as the 2024-25 regular season progressed.
Past NBA Cup champions
2024: Milwaukee Bucks2023: Los Angeles Lakers
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