The Emirates NBA Cup is so named because of its multi-year title sponsorship by Emirates airline, and it's the same competition that fans refer to as the NBA Cup which doesn't have a second tournament, just two names for the same tournament. Official broadcasts and nba.com start their broadcasts with the sponsor name, while everyday communication rarely includes it.
If you've seen both names and wondered if they were two separate things, here's the sponsorship deal behind the branding and the court and trophy design that goes with it.
In one line: The Emirates NBA Cup is the NBA's in-season tournament in full name, and is exactly the same tournament that most NBA fans refer to as "the NBA Cup" - The name change doesn't change the format, teams or games. All of this on this page is to fill in that name's actual origin.
The official name of the tournament actually highlights the multi-year sponsorship between the NBA and Dubai's Emirates airline, which began in February 2024. The same sort of naming rights deal as the arena has with a bank's name, or the stadium with an insurance company's name — but in this case, a tournament rather than a building.
Typical title sponsorships include in-broadcast branding, courtside signage, trophy presentation appearances and such, which is why "Emirates" has appeared prominently during NBA Cup coverage, but not when the team plays in regular, non-Cup games.
Yes, completely. "NBA Cup" and "Emirates NBA Cup" are the same tournament, with groups the same, the knockout bracket the same, the wild-card format the same, and the final the same. The sponsorship name is always used first in broadcasts and league branding, as it is a component of what the NBA sponsors; in headlines and casual conversation, it is often shortened to just " NBA Cup. There is no more "official" name for the tournament as far as what it actually is as both of these names are interchangeable to refer to one tournament.
In group stage games and knockout games, one is played on a court branded with the tournament's branding and not a team's home court, which is also branded with the team's uniform for the Cup, and is different from the regular-season court that is branded with the same design. The neutral-site championship court is usually designed in a different color scheme from either finalists' team colors, and usually has elements from both the Eastern and Western conferences.
The championship trophy is a custom-made design just for this event, not the NBA Finals in June which also gets the Larry O'Brien Trophy – another sign that the Cup, sponsorship name and all, is intended to be its own hardware and not a taste of the post season.
Regardless of which name it goes by, this tournament is the same experience and certainly worth making on a site that's licensed for Filipino wagerers. The Sports OKBet is designed for this purpose.
The Emirates NBA Cup is the same tournament as the NBA Cup, with the same groups, bracket and the same fans! After it makes sense to name it, the following or betting the tournament itself is easy and it is worth to do on a platform that is licensed for the use of the players of the Philippines. Follow Emirates NBA Cup from Group Stage through to Finals on Sports OKBet and check odds on all the live games.
The league's in-season tournament is titled the "Emirates NBA Cup" as Emirates airline has signed a multi-year title sponsorship deal in February 2024.
No — it's the same competition. The official recognised name of this event is "Emirates NBA Cup" and the press, fans use the shortened "NBA Cup" for the same event.
This trophy is a custom design specifically for this tournament, and is not a June awarded Larry O'Brien Trophy for the NBA Finals champion.
The games are played in accordance with the rules of the NBA, and the sponsorship also drives branding, signage around the court, and the way the game is broadcast, but not how it's played, scored or officiated.
Yes — specially painted courts with tournament logos and colors, with the same color scheme as the team's Cup uniform, are used for the games in the group stage and knockout stage, instead of a regular-season hardwood court.
No. All NBA teams automatically qualify and Emirates' branding is only a part of the naming and presentation agreement and not the format or qualification.
