What happened: The NBA has released the group-draw results for the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup. Beginning October 30, all 30 teams will play group-stage games, with eight advancing into the single-elimination knockout rounds. The championship game will be staged at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11.

Why it matters: The in-season tournament gives every club a competitive marker before the calendar turns, and a neutral-site final at a historic venue raises the stakes and the profile of the event. Group placement shapes each team's path to the knockout rounds and its margin for early-season stumbles.

What to watch: Group-stage matchups begin October 30, with the field narrowing to eight for the knockout rounds ahead of the December 11 championship in Indianapolis.