NBA Cup Semifinals Are Coming Home: League Ditches Vegas for True Home-Court Advantage in 26-27 Season
There’s a certain magic to a neutral-site game. The lights of Las Vegas shone on the NBA Cup, the high-stakes feel, the sense that anything can happen on a court far from anyone’s home turf. For its first few years, the NBA Cup leaned into that spectacle, turning its semifinal and championship games into a must-see Vegas event. It was flashy, it was new, and it served its purpose. But let’s be honest—nothing, and I mean nothing, beats the raw, unfiltered roar of a home crowd fighting for their team’s shot at glory.
The NBA clearly agrees. In a move that feels both like a return to roots and a massive step forward, the league announced that starting with the 2026-27 season, the NBA Cup semifinals will be played in the home arenas of the higher-seeded teams. The sterile, neutral environment of T-Mobile Arena will be replaced by the thunderous chants of thousands of hometown fans, the familiar squeak of sneakers on a court where every dead spot and every friendly bounce is known.
This isn’t just a logistical change; it’s a seismic shift in the tournament’s soul.
Why This Change to the NBA Cup Matters
Think about the sheer electricity of a do-or-die game on your home floor. It’s the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, the collective inhale before a Jayson Tatum three-pointer. It’s the Denver Nuggets, a mile high, with the crowd’s energy practically sucking the oxygen out of the building for visiting teams. This is the atmosphere the NBA Cup semifinals will now inherit.
Commissioner Adam Silver has been on a mission to inject more meaning into the long grind of the regular season. The inaugural NBA Cup was a bold experiment, and by all accounts, a successful one. But bringing the semifinals home cranks the dial to eleven. Suddenly, those group-stage games in November aren’t just about qualifying; they’re about earning the right to defend your home court with a trip to the championship on the line. The advantage is real, it’s tangible, and it will be fought for tooth and nail from the very first tip-off of the tournament.
The days of a semi-final feeling like a high-stakes exhibition are over. This change transforms it into a true playoff prequel, a visceral battle where every possession is amplified by the hopes of an entire city.
Elevating the Fan Experience and Player Stakes
While the neutral site in Las Vegas offered a centralized, festival-like atmosphere, it also kept the heart of the tournament at a distance from the very fanbases that power the league. Now, fans who have passionately supported their team all season will get to be part of the journey in a more meaningful way. They won’t have to book flights and hotels to feel the tension of a semifinal game; they can experience it in the building they know and love.
For the players, the incentive is even greater. The prize money for the NBA Cup has already proven to be a significant motivator, but the pride of winning a high-stakes game in front of your own crowd is immeasurable. It deepens the connection between the team and its community, forging the kind of moments that become legendary. The championship will remain a neutral-site spectacle, preserving that “Super Bowl” feel for the final showdown, but the path to get there will now be paved with authentic home-court battles.
A Smaller, Yet Significant, Tweak
Alongside this major structural change to the NBA Cup, the league also quietly fine-tuned the Coach’s Challenge rule. Beginning in the 2025-26 season, when a coach challenges an out-of-bounds call, the decision on a potential foul on the play will now come from the Replay Center official, not the on-court crew chief.
While it might seem minor, this is a smart move designed to speed up the game. The goal is to get the call right without the lengthy on-court debates that can kill momentum. It’s another example of the league’s commitment to refining the product, ensuring the focus remains on the action.
Ultimately, though, the big story is the soul of the NBA Cup. The tournament is growing, shedding some of its initial novelty for something more profound. It’s embracing the tradition and passion that make playoff basketball so special and weaving it into the fabric of the regular season. Get ready for louder arenas, higher stakes, and a tournament that feels more like home than ever before.
