The NBA offseason continues to deliver news on multiple fronts, spanning league-wide competitions, significant team investments in core players, and somber developments concerning former athletes. Recent announcements shed light on the structure of the upcoming NBA Cup, a major contract extension for a rising star, and the legal consequences for a player from the league`s recent past.
2025 NBA Cup Groups Revealed, Schedule Set
Preparation for the third edition of the NBA Cup, officially known as the In-Season Tournament, is underway with the recent draw determining the group stage matchups for the 2025 season. Thirty teams will compete in six groups of five, split evenly between the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The group stage phase is scheduled to tip off on October 31, 2025, running through November 28, 2025. Following the preliminary rounds, the tournament transitions to single-elimination play. The quarterfinals are slated for December 9th and 10th, followed by the semifinals on December 13th. The chase for the trophy will culminate with the final on December 16th.
For the second consecutive year, the Final Four will head to Las Vegas, the city colloquially known as “Sin City,” providing a distinct backdrop for the tournament`s climax.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champions, having claimed the title in the 2024 edition. The Los Angeles Lakers were the inaugural champions in 2023.
The group composition for the 2025 NBA Cup is as follows:
Eastern Conference Groups
- Group A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
- Group B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
- Group C: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference Groups
- Group A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
- Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans
- Group C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
Qualification for the knockout phase will see the winner of each of the six groups advance, joined by the best second-place team from each conference, totaling eight teams moving forward.
Oklahoma City Commits Major Resources to Chet Holmgren
In team personnel news, the Oklahoma City Thunder have made a significant financial commitment to one of their young cornerstones, center Chet Holmgren. The 23-year-old, selected second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has reportedly signed a contract extension for five years, potentially worth up to $250 million based on incentives.
This mega-deal follows closely on the heels of the Thunder securing their franchise player, guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a four-year, $285 million extension that runs through 2031. OKC is clearly intent on keeping its promising young core together long-term, with Jalen Williams widely anticipated to be the next player in line for a lucrative extension.
While Holmgren`s potential is undeniable, having missed his entire rookie season due to injury, the scale of the reported contract prompts the perennial question of market value versus demonstrated production. His playoff statistics from last season averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The figure certainly represents a significant investment based heavily on future projection rather than past performance alone. However, in the context of the current NBA salary landscape, such contracts are increasingly becoming the norm for high-potential young players. The Thunder are betting big that Holmgren`s best basketball is yet to come and are willing to pay the price commanded by the market to retain him.
Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Sentenced to Prison
In a somber development, former NBA guard Ben McLemore has been sentenced to over eight years in prison following a conviction for rape. The incident for which the 32-year-old was sentenced reportedly occurred in October 2021 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, at a gathering hosted by a then-teammate, Robert Covington.
McLemore, who was the seventh overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Kansas University, had a nine-year NBA career. He played for five different franchises: the Sacramento Kings (where he had his highest scoring average of 12.1 points per game in his second season), Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Portland Trail Blazers, where he finished his NBA tenure in 2022.
Since leaving the NBA, McLemore has played professionally in China, Greece, and Spain. It is reported that McLemore has maintained his innocence regarding the charges against him.
