Top 5 Best and Worst NBA Cup Courts of 2026

The NBA season is underway, yet the focus shifts early to the NBA Cup, kicking off on October 30. Group stage games stretch through November, with the tournament's knockout rounds slated for early December. Last year, the Knicks clinched both the NBA Cup and the NBA title, sparking some hope that this year's Cup winner might predict the eventual league champion.

Each NBA court features a burst of color for the NBA Cup, though the designs have grown more uniform compared to previous years. Here's a look at the most striking and underwhelming courts around the league.

Top 5 NBA Cup Courts of 2026

• Cavaliers: Cleveland embraces a gold theme matching the trophy imagery, featuring a gold baseline and sidelines against a deep red floor. After opting for wine-and-gold looks in last season’s playoffs, the Cavs’ court stands out with its rich colors and elegant design.
• Nuggets: Denver’s court surprises with a bold dark red playing surface, complemented by their blue logo at center court and yellow framing. Their tri-color scheme translates well, making their court one of the most distinctive.
• Timberwolves: Gray dominates many NBA Cup courts, but here it fits naturally with Minnesota’s color palette. The medium gray floor doesn’t overwhelm, while the surrounding blue pops alongside the fresh logo at midcourt.
• Mavericks: Dallas chose a vivid blue and black combination rather than a dull gray. This decision lets the gold trophy graphics at the paint and center court stand out sharply against the bright blue backdrop.
• Jazz: Utah keeps it simple yet effective. As the only purple court in the league, the sky blue border complements their jerseys perfectly, requiring no extra effort to shine among the Cup courts.

5 NBA Cup Courts That Missed the Mark

• Warriors: Golden State’s heavy use of gray clashes with their usual vibrant style. It’s strange they rely so much on a color outside their typical scheme when their standard look is one of the league’s best.
• Lakers: Their court is mostly yellow, bordered by black, with only a small purple logo at center. The yellow borders lean toward a harsh highlighter shade, far from the warmer yellow worn during Kobe Bryant’s era. Some purple around the edges would have improved the look.
• Grizzlies: Memphis uses a dark gray floor that feels out of place within their generally muted colors. Shades of blue or even some throwback hues would have made for a more engaging and colorful court.
• 76ers: Philadelphia’s court employs navy blue heavily around a royal blue floor and features just a “76” at center. Given their patriotic imagery options, this blue-on-blue look feels bland and fails to make the court pop.
• Spurs: San Antonio went nearly all-black with a very dark gray court that blends into the black borders, removing contrast. They missed chances to use their Fiesta colors, which could have added vibrancy, assuming the NBA allowed it.