The 2026 NBA Cup begins on Friday, Oct. 30, as the fourth season of the NBA's in-season competition tips off. History was made last year when the New York Knicks became the first team to pull off the NBA double, winning the NBA Cup and the NBA championship in the same season -- beating the San Antonio Spurs in both finals. While some still fail to properly respect the Cup, teams are coming around to the idea that it is an early-season proving ground that can build confidence for postseason success.
The 2026 edition will be decided over the next six weeks, with four group-stage games determining the eight teams that reach the knockout rounds, leading to the championship at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11. As a refresher, these are the teams that will battle for group stage supremacy over the next four weeks. Before we get into this year's NBA Cup action, we've got five bold predictions for this year's competition, including some surprising group winners, a pick for the champion and a team that could set a new record for futility.
It took longer than it should have, but the Knicks finally put an NBA Cup banner in the Madison Square Garden rafters. That initial Cup disrespect from James Dolan will have its consequences in 2026. New York drew a brutal spot in East Group B that includes the 76ers, Cavaliers, Heat and Pacers, and the Knicks are going to continue the streak of defending Cup champs failing to get out of the group stage the following year.
The Lakers and Bucks both failed to advance out of the group while defending their Cup crown, and the Knicks will make it three straight years of Cup champs missing out on the knockout stage. The Spurs are the favorites and the Lakers are a threat, but I think this Blazers team is built for the Cup. An early-season competition is ideal for a Portland team that's still healthy and flying high right now with its star backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant.
I have some questions about the Blazers over the long haul, but right now, they're in a flow state on offense. Lillard has already lifted the Cup once in Milwaukee and will be hungry to help lead his young Blazers teammates to that same glory. They might fall short of that ultimate goal, but I think they can shock Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the group and reach the knockouts, where Dame Time gives them a puncher's chance in any matchup.
The Kings have already lost games by 25 and 27 points in four games this season and we have not even reached the portion of the calendar where teams are incentivized to run up the score. The Kings play in West Group C with the Spurs, Lakers, Blazers and Warriors, and each of those teams will see their matchup with Sacramento as an opportunity to get some much-needed point differential help. The current record for worst point differential in four group stage games belongs to the 2025 Jazz, who finished with an astonishing -85 differential despite winning a game.
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