By Ed Condran
The Emirates NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament, will return to T-Mobile Arena for a semifinal contest Dec. 14 and for the championship Dec. 17. The Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Indiana Pacers in an exciting finale to close the first annual event in 2023.
The NBA is planning more immersive fan experiences, live entertainment, interactive games and VIP opportunities such as courtside dinners with NBA legends for the second Emirates NBA Cup.
“We’re looking to create more engagement with our fans,” NBA Executive VP of Global Events Kelly Flatlow said. “The fans are seeing a special event at the beginning of the season on the court, and we’re doubling down this year on bringing more energy and excitement to Las Vegas for the second Emirates NBA Cup.”
NBA Experience packages are available offering exclusive access to helicopter tours, VIP shootarounds and dinner on the Emirates NBA Cup Court. NBA icons including Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dominique Wilkins were part of the event in 2023.
The inaugural NBA Tees & Threes Golf Tournament is slated for Dec. 16 at Wynn Golf Course. The event pairs celebrities, pro golfers and NBA legends with fans. Aficionados will have the option to play or watch golf-side while enjoying live entertainment, gourmet food and beverages and photo opportunities.
The NBA is no stranger to Las Vegas since the NBA Summer League has been in town for 20 years. “We love Las Vegas, and we know how ideal it is to have the Emirates Cup there since it’s such a great sports town,” Flatlow said. “Las Vegas is a terrific destination for NBA fans.”
There are so many special events on tap that the NBA added an extra day for the Emirates Cup. “It was Thursday to Saturday last year,” Flatlow said. “We have more things going on this year, so we really need that extra day.”
The athletes are playing for the cup and a nice bonus. The winners of the NBA Cup receive $500,000 each. The runner-up team leaves town with $200,000 each.
“This is a great tournament for the players and the fans,” Flatlow said. “Las Vegas has been great for the NBA Emirates Cup.”
No wonder there is so much buzz that Las Vegas, along with Seattle, will be the next cities to have an NBA team.
“Las Vegas is a world class destination,” Flatlow said. “All 30 of the NBA teams see that. Las Vegas has been great for our summer league. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the future with the NBA and Las Vegas.”
More: NBAEvents.com/cup
