2026 NBA Cup Early Odds Feature San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics as Frontrunners

The fourth iteration of the NBA Cup is officially underway, bringing fresh intrigue to the early-season schedule. According to reports from mid-November, the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics lead the board as the primary favorites to capture the tournament title, holding odds of +350 and +400 respectively. Other top contenders include the Thunder at +500 and the Pistons at +1000.

Historically, the in-season tournament has featured distinct champions across its first three years, with the Los Angeles Lakers claiming the inaugural crown, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks. Notably, trends from previous seasons show strong correlation for success, as the Western Conference runner-up in the past two tournaments ultimately advanced to the NBA Finals, while the Knicks achieved a double by winning both the Cup and the NBA Finals last season.

Past MVPs of the competition include LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jalen Brunson, all of whom boast prior NBA championships and Finals MVP awards. Group stage action continues to heat up across conferences, with teams like the Celtics, Timberwolves, and Mavericks posting strong early records in their respective pools.