NBA Unveiled 2026 Tournament Court Designs
The league revealed custom court designs for all 30 teams ahead of the fourth annual NBA Cup tournament.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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The NBA has released unique court designs for all 30 teams participating in the upcoming 2026 NBA Cup. These new designs are inspired by the Nike End of Ordinary campaign and aim to contrast with each home team's Statement Edition uniform.
Why it matters
The annual tournament serves as a mid-season feature that divides the 30 teams into six groups of five, culminating in a knockout bracket. The court aesthetics help distinguish these specific tournament games from the remainder of the regular season schedule.
The tournament features 30 teams organized into six groups of five, marking the fourth edition of the in-season competition. Eight teams will eventually advance from group play to the knockout stages.
The players
NBA
The National Basketball Association is the premier professional basketball league in the United States.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are a professional basketball team that enters the tournament as the reigning champions.
Nike
Nike is a global athletic footwear and apparel corporation that provided the creative inspiration for the court designs.
The details
The new court designs feature the consistent tagline 30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion. Tournament games are scheduled to take place on Fridays throughout the group stage, with the championship game hosted at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Timeline
Tournament group play begins on October 30, 2026.
Cup Nights occur every Friday from October 30 through November 27, 2026.
The championship game takes place on December 11, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The introduction of these specialized court designs reinforces the NBA Cup as a permanent fixture in the league's annual calendar. This visual refresh distinguishes the tournament from regular-season play as the New York Knicks look to defend their title.
Fans can identify tournament games by the custom court branding, which helps differentiate these high-stakes matchups from standard regular-season contests. The group structure determines which teams qualify for the eight-team knockout bracket in December.
The takeaway
The league is continuing to invest in unique visual identities to increase the profile of its mid-season tournament. Viewers should look for the tournament-specific court graphics during Friday night games starting in late October.
What happens next
Tournament group play begins on October 30, 2026, with the championship game following at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 11, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in professional play, visit our Basketball page.
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Do you believe the annual NBA in-season tournament enhances the basketball season for fans?
