FOR THE CUP: Sixers officially begin their quest for glory as they host the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Cup group stage

Philadelphia, it’s time. Start planning Sixers’ parade routes, open containers, and premature confetti because everything is back on the table.

Forget the Larry O’Brien Trophy or any of those boring “playoff” championships. This is the NBA Cup, the association’s shiny midseason participation prize, and the Sixers are ready to win the one title that truly matters in November.

Disclaimer: The NBA’s midseason tournament now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup because nothing says “tradition” like a Dubai-based sponsorship. It all begins tonight as the Sixers tip things off tonight against the Celtics.

It might just be the hype around a soon-to-be undefeated Sixers squad and the fact that VJ Edgecombe is the second-coming of Anthony Edwards but either way, the stakes have never been lower, or higher, depending on how seriously you take this thing.

It’s Time…

In two years of this so-called “in-season tournament,” the Sixers have never advanced past the group play stage. Apparently, that “regular season focus” Nick Nurse keeps talking about didn’t extend to winning random games in November for a fake trophy.

Regardless, maybe the third time really is the charm. The Sixers are undefeated, Tyrese Maxey is averaging Wilt Chamberlain numbers, VJ Edgecombe is the rookie darling of the league, and Joel Embiid is completely locked-in and dominating, even if that’s 20 minutes at a time. This is the Sixers year and their play in the early-goings of this season has looked immaculate, even for an event that no one can quite define the meaning of.

FOR THE CUP!

Here’s how it works. Every team in the league gets tossed into a five-team group like it’s middle school gym class. The Sixers are in Eastern Conference Group B alongside the Celtics, Nets, Pistons, and Magic.

They’ll play each of them once, and the winner of the group advances, along with one wild card team that just barely missed out but won by enough points to impress the math department at NBA headquarters.

The Sixers’ NBA Cup Schedule:

• Oct. 31 vs. Boston Celtics (Amazon Prime)
• Nov. 14 @ Detroit Pistons
• Nov. 25 vs. Orlando Magic (NBC)
• Nov. 28 @ Brooklyn Nets

If you thought NBA players didn’t care about point differential before, think again. Every basket counts. If the Sixers are up 20 late in a game, expect Maxey to be pulling from the logo and Embiid to be posting up like it’s Game 7 of the Finals.

The winners from each group, plus the top wild card from each conference, advance to the Knockout Rounds, a single-elimination bracket where things actually start to feel like they matter.

Those games still count toward the regular season, except for the championship game, which is its own standalone event.

The semifinals are on Dec. 13, and the grand finale goes down Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, where the winner gets a trophy, a fat check, and eternal midseason glory.

The Sixers’ official NBA Cup court.

our @NBA Cup court. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oETe2g10cK

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 24, 2025

The court isn’t great. It lacks team branding outside of plain text “Philadelphia 76ers” and “Phila” at half court. They did use the Philly/TLL 13-stars though and the court feels patriotic enough for me to continue to push the “Philadelphia First” agenda so I’ll take it.

Plus, the NBA Cup courts always suck. Expectations were low from the start.

Let’s Talk Money

Players on the winning team get about half a million dollars each. Runners-up get around $200K. Even guys who lose in the quarterfinals make a little over $50K.

Prize Breakdown (2024 Figures):

• Lose in quarterfinals: $51,497
• Lose in semifinals: $102,994
• Lose in championship: $205,988
• Win the championship: $514,970

It’s pocket change for guys like Embiid, Maxey, and PG but for the younger guys on rookie contracts, that’s a pretty good haul for something so meaningless.

Why the Sixers Might Actually Win the NBA Cup

The Sixers are built for this. They’re not playing for legacy or rings or even playoff redemption. When it comes to meaningless but highly marketable tournaments, you’d think that vibes are everything and so far this year, that’s exactly what this team brings to the table on a nightly basis.

Maxey is in superstar mode. Edgecombe plays like every night is his personal audition for Rookie of the Year. Embiid’s limited minutes have him fresh enough to bully people without breaking a sweat and fucking hell, even Kelly Oubre Jr. is playing at an elite level.

This is the perfect storm for the Sixers and this fanbase has no other choice but to get irrationally hyped about something that will ultimately lead to disappointment.

Or maybe it won’t?

The NBA Cup isn’t quite the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Maybe it’s a glorified marketing stunt dressed up as competition but if the Sixers go all the way and lift that glitzy, vaguely soccer-looking trophy in Las Vegas, you better believe there’s going to be a parade down Broad Street.

If the Sixers are in the mix and there’s hardware involved, we’re celebrating like it’s 1983.

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