As the 2024–2025 NBA campaign unfolds, the NBA Cup will inject a fresh dose of excitement into the first half of the regular season. The in-season tournament starts on November 12, with the Los Angeles Lakers aiming to defend their title.
You can watch NBA Cup action on national channels like ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT. However, you’ll need your local team’s in-market channels and an NBA League Pass subscription to watch the entire group stage.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best ways to tune in—ensuring you never miss a moment of the NBA’s second annual in-season competition.
What channels show the NBA Cup?
You can watch national coverage of the NBA Cup live on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT.
Most games will air on regional sports networks (RSNs) during the group stage. Therefore, you’ll need your local NBA team’s RSN and an NBA League Pass subscription to watch in-market and out-of-market matchups.
Pro tip: Head to our How To Watch Local NBA Games guide for a list of every NBA team’s local channel affiliate.
NBA Cup TV schedule
Spanning just over five weeks, the 2024 NBA Cup tips off on November 12 and ends on December 17. The tournament will feature the typical home-away format. But the semifinals and final will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Below is an outline of the tournament’s various rounds. But for specific game details, visit the official NBA Cup schedule.
| Round | Start date | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Group Play | Nov. 12, 2024 | ESPN, NBA TV, TNT, RSNs, NBA League Pass |
| Quarterfinals | Dec. 10, 2024 | TBA |
| Semifinals | Dec. 14, 2024 | TBA |
| NBA Cup Championship | Dec. 17, 2024 | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
What is the 2024 NBA Cup format?
The NBA Cup’s group play draw took place in July. Using last season’s standings, the league split all 30 NBA teams into groups of five within their conferences. The best teams from each group will move on to the quarterfinals, with two wild cards from each conference joining the pack.
Below is the team list for the six groups in this year’s NBA Cup.
2024 NBA Cup groups
- East Group A: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers
- East Group B: Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors
- East Group C: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Wizards
- West Group A: Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings
- West Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz
- West Group C: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans
Did you know? The concept of the NBA Cup draws inspiration from similar international soccer competitions. However, before fully embracing the tournament, the NBA tested the idea with the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Best NBA Cup TV plans
NBA fans who have already prepped for the regular season will have no trouble watching the NBA Cup. After all, regular-season and in-season tournament games air across the same channels with the same local and national blackout restrictions.
Our How To Watch NBA Games guide offers an in-depth look at the best TV plans for watching pro basketball. But here’s a quick rundown of our favorite NBA-centric TV providers.
- Local games: DIRECTV STREAM (starting at $69.99 a month) is the best service for watching in-market NBA games because it has fantastic RSN coverage. It’s expensive, but it also has every national NBA channel.
- Out-of-market games: NBA League Pass is the only way to watch out-of-market NBA games. Some providers offer it as an add-on, but it’s also available as a standalone streaming subscription.
- National games: YouTube TV ($72.99 a month) is excellent for watching national NBA games on ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT because of its multi-view and unlimited DVR features. However, Sling TV presents a cheaper route for national coverage via its Sling Orange plan ($40.00 a month) and the Sports Extra add-on ($11.00 a month).
Which TV providers show the NBA Cup?
Most TV providers carry NBA Cup games because ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT are common channels, as highlighted in the table below. But NBA TV may require a higher-tiered plan or add-on package.
| Provider | Price | ABC | ESPN | NBA TV | TNT | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $61.00–$152.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $69.99–$159.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $69.99–$149.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | $97.99–$147.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $32.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $35.00–$125.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $40.00–$55.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $85.00–$129.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Can you watch the NBA Cup for free?
You can watch the NBA Cup on ABC for free using an over-the-air antenna. However, the only other way to watch tournament games for free is by taking advantage of free trial offers from live TV streaming services. DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and YouTube TV typically provide trial periods of varying lengths.
No free trial will cover the entire length of the competition. Therefore, you’re better off waiting until the semifinals before activating a trial subscription.
How to watch the NBA Cup FAQ
Can you watch the NBA Cup online?
Yes, you can watch the NBA Cup online through any live TV streaming service that offers ESPN, NBA TV, TNT, and your local team’s regional TV affiliate. Out-of-market games are also available to stream via NBA League Pass.
Does NBA League Pass have NBA Cup games?
Yes, NBA League Pass shows every live out-of-market game during the NBA Cup’s group stage. Similar to the regular season, games televised locally and nationally are accessible on demand via NBA League Pass after the conclusion of each matchup.
How does the NBA Cup work?
The NBA Cup features group play and knockout rounds. All games contribute to the NBA regular-season standings, except the championship match. As the tournament progresses, the top-performing teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals—vying for the NBA Cup title.
Why you should trust us
Our sports experts researched and tested the best services for watching this year’s NBA Cup—having watched last season’s tournament. After compiling a list of tournament channels, we compared the network lineups of popular providers. We determined our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and additional features.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
