NBA Cup 2025: Quarterfinals preview, format, how much money players can win in NBA's in-season tournament
The NBA’s in-season tournament is back, and the 2025 NBA Cup quarterfinals are set to give the regular season a playoff-style jolt long before spring. What began as a collection of group-stage games folded into the standard schedule has now tightened into a true knockout bracket, with eight teams chasing both a new piece of hardware and serious financial stakes.
Format-wise, the structure remains straightforward. Group play determined the eight quarterfinalists, seeded by record and tiebreakers such as point differential. Those teams now move into single-elimination matchups hosted by the higher seeds, with winners advancing to a neutral-site semifinal and final. None of these games count as postseason contests, but every result still goes on the regular-season ledger, adding competitive juice to nights that once felt routine.
Money is a major driver of that intensity. Players on the championship team can earn a substantial bonus, with sliding payouts for those who reach the semifinals and quarterfinals. For max-contract stars, the money is a perk. For younger players and those on minimum deals, it can be transformative, turning the NBA Cup into a rare opportunity to significantly boost annual income in just a handful of games.
The league’s hope is that the financial incentives, combined with national TV windows and a trophy of its own, will build tradition. Coaches are already managing rotations with the tournament in mind, weighing rest against the chance to compete for a midseason title. Front offices, too, are watching closely; a strong NBA Cup showing can validate roster moves or expose flaws long before the trade deadline.
From a broader perspective, the quarterfinals are where the concept truly crystallizes. The stakes are clear, the bracket is easy to follow, and the atmosphere edges closer to playoff basketball. If the matchups deliver drama, the NBA Cup can continue to evolve from experimental wrinkle into a permanent, high-priority fixture on the league calendar.
Format-wise, the structure remains straightforward. Group play determined the eight quarterfinalists, seeded by record and tiebreakers such as point differential. Those teams now move into single-elimination matchups hosted by the higher seeds, with winners advancing to a neutral-site semifinal and final. None of these games count as postseason contests, but every result still goes on the regular-season ledger, adding competitive juice to nights that once felt routine.
Money is a major driver of that intensity. Players on the championship team can earn a substantial bonus, with sliding payouts for those who reach the semifinals and quarterfinals. For max-contract stars, the money is a perk. For younger players and those on minimum deals, it can be transformative, turning the NBA Cup into a rare opportunity to significantly boost annual income in just a handful of games.
The league’s hope is that the financial incentives, combined with national TV windows and a trophy of its own, will build tradition. Coaches are already managing rotations with the tournament in mind, weighing rest against the chance to compete for a midseason title. Front offices, too, are watching closely; a strong NBA Cup showing can validate roster moves or expose flaws long before the trade deadline.
From a broader perspective, the quarterfinals are where the concept truly crystallizes. The stakes are clear, the bracket is easy to follow, and the atmosphere edges closer to playoff basketball. If the matchups deliver drama, the NBA Cup can continue to evolve from experimental wrinkle into a permanent, high-priority fixture on the league calendar.
