With the All-Star Game going global, is the NBA Cup next?
The dust has settled at the Intuit Dome, and the NBA’s bold experiment with a three-team, round-robin format for the 2026 All-Star Game has officially cemented the league’s global identity. By pitting Team USA Stars and Team USA Stripes against a loaded Team World, the league acknowledged what the MVP races have told us for years: the international gap has closed. But as the league celebrates this milestone in Los Angeles, a bigger question looms: If the All-Star Game has fully embraced the global narrative, is the NBA Cup the next property to pack its bags?
The answer seems inevitable. Commissioner Adam Silver has been transparent about the future of the In-Season Tournament. With the initial three-year commitment to Las Vegas concluded, the league is actively exploring new venues for the Cup’s "Final Four." While Silver recently floated the idea of hosting the championship in "storied college arenas" to build atmosphere, the momentum from this weekend suggests a more ambitious trajectory. The NBA Cup is the perfect vessel for international expansion—far more logistically feasible than exporting the NBA Finals.
Unlike a best-of-seven playoff series, which makes trans-Atlantic travel a competitive nightmare, the NBA Cup’s single-elimination knockout stage mirrors the structure of European soccer cups. A "Final Four" weekend in Paris, London, or Mexico City would instantly elevate the tournament from a domestic curiosity to a global spectacle. Silver has even previously hinted at a future where top European clubs could eventually compete in the tournament, a concept that moves from fantasy to possibility if the venue shifts overseas.
The 2026 All-Star Weekend proved that the "World" is not just a participant; it is a driving force. The league has successfully imported the world’s best talent to American soil. Now, the logical next step is to export meaningful, high-stakes basketball back to them. The NBA Cup shouldn't just be a neutral-site game in a university fieldhouse; it should be the league’s passport to a truly global championship.
The answer seems inevitable. Commissioner Adam Silver has been transparent about the future of the In-Season Tournament. With the initial three-year commitment to Las Vegas concluded, the league is actively exploring new venues for the Cup’s "Final Four." While Silver recently floated the idea of hosting the championship in "storied college arenas" to build atmosphere, the momentum from this weekend suggests a more ambitious trajectory. The NBA Cup is the perfect vessel for international expansion—far more logistically feasible than exporting the NBA Finals.
Unlike a best-of-seven playoff series, which makes trans-Atlantic travel a competitive nightmare, the NBA Cup’s single-elimination knockout stage mirrors the structure of European soccer cups. A "Final Four" weekend in Paris, London, or Mexico City would instantly elevate the tournament from a domestic curiosity to a global spectacle. Silver has even previously hinted at a future where top European clubs could eventually compete in the tournament, a concept that moves from fantasy to possibility if the venue shifts overseas.
The 2026 All-Star Weekend proved that the "World" is not just a participant; it is a driving force. The league has successfully imported the world’s best talent to American soil. Now, the logical next step is to export meaningful, high-stakes basketball back to them. The NBA Cup shouldn't just be a neutral-site game in a university fieldhouse; it should be the league’s passport to a truly global championship.
