2024 NBA Cup: Bucks Crowned Champions and Top Players Revealed
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially the champions of the 2024 NBA Cup, sealing their victory with a commanding 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas. While the final game didn’t bring the nail-biting drama fans hoped for, it cemented the Bucks’ dominance and proved just how far the NBA Cup has come in only its second year.
Last year, the inaugural “In-Season Tournament” felt more like an experiment. Players, teams, and even fans were figuring out how it worked. This year, however, things felt different. Teams came prepared, understanding every detail, including the often-confusing point differential tiebreakers. The stakes felt real, and the intensity showed on the court. What we got was a midseason tournament that delivered high-level basketball and added a new layer of excitement to the NBA calendar.
The Road to the Championship: Bucks vs. Thunder
The final featured two standout teams. On one side, you had the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who seems unstoppable when he’s locked in. On the other, the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the league’s rising powers, led by the electric Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The matchup was a clash of styles: Milwaukee’s gritty defense and experience against Oklahoma City’s youthful energy and creativity.
Giannis was simply on another level. Averaging over 31 points per game in the knockout stages, he left his mark on every game. His triple-double in the final—adding blocks and steals to his already insane stat line—was the perfect exclamation point. The Thunder, meanwhile, couldn’t find their groove. Their shooting was off, and Milwaukee’s defense smothered their usual rhythm, holding them to just 44% shooting inside the arc.
The Stars of the NBA Cup
While Giannis rightfully earned MVP honors, this tournament was full of standout performances. Here’s a look at the top names and moments that defined the NBA Cup:
Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo
If there was ever a doubt about who the best player in the tournament was, Giannis erased it. He brought playoff-level intensity to every game, not just scoring but anchoring the Bucks’ defense. His block on Trae Young in the semifinals was one of those jaw-dropping plays that only Giannis could pull off. In the final, he dominated on both ends, leaving no doubt that Milwaukee’s title was well-earned.
All-NBA Cup Team
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): The tournament’s clear star.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder): Despite the loss, Shai carried his team to the finals with clutch performances.
- Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks): Giannis’ partner in crime, Lillard averaged nearly 30 points per game in the knockout rounds.
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets): Sengun’s all-around brilliance helped Houston reach the semifinals.
- Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks): Young’s scoring and playmaking made Atlanta a surprise semifinalist.
This group represents the best of the tournament—players who showed up when it mattered most and made their teams better.
Coach of the Tournament: Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers deserves a lot of credit for Milwaukee’s success. The Bucks came into the NBA Cup as a strong team, but Rivers elevated their defensive identity. Last year, Milwaukee struggled in this same tournament, but this time they dominated, going undefeated and shutting down their opponents with disciplined game plans. Even when they lost Khris Middleton in the final due to illness, Rivers adjusted, and the Bucks didn’t miss a beat.
Biggest Coaching Blunder: Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra is widely considered one of the best coaches in the league, but even he makes mistakes. In Miami’s opening game against Detroit, Spoelstra called a timeout the Heat didn’t have, handing the Pistons a game-winning technical free throw. That one mistake derailed Miami’s chances of advancing in the tournament. It’s a tough reminder that even the best can slip up under pressure.
Source: 2024 NBA Cup: Picking the top players, rookie and best game
Rookies, Surprises, and Disappointments
Top Rookie: Jared McCain
It wasn’t a great tournament for rookies overall, but Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers stood out. The young sharpshooter averaged nearly 25 points per game in group play, shooting a blistering 51% from three. While he didn’t get a chance to shine in the knockout rounds, his group-stage performance was enough to crown him Rookie of the Cup.
Most Improved Team: Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were one of the tournament’s feel-good stories. Last year, they flopped in the group stage, but this time they made it all the way to the semifinals. Led by Trae Young, Atlanta looked like a team that’s figuring things out, both on offense and defense. Their improvement is a promising sign for the rest of the season.
Biggest Disappointment: Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the tournament with high hopes but failed to deliver. Despite being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, they couldn’t make it out of their group. Losses to Atlanta and Boston sealed their fate, and what looked like a golden opportunity to win some midseason hardware slipped away.
Best Moments of the NBA Cup
Game of the Tournament: Warriors vs. Mavericks
The opening night gave us a classic. Klay Thompson returned to Chase Center to face his old team, the Golden State Warriors, now as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. The emotions were high, and the game delivered. Thompson scored 22 points, including six threes, but it was Stephen Curry who stole the show in the final minutes. Curry scored Golden State’s last 12 points to rally from a six-point deficit, securing a dramatic 120-117 win.
Most Heartbreaking Injury: Franz Wagner
The Orlando Magic were a feel-good story in the group stage, led by Franz Wagner’s breakout performances. Wagner was arguably the MVP of the early rounds, but an oblique injury sidelined him before the quarterfinals. Without him, Orlando put up a fight against Milwaukee but ultimately couldn’t overcome the Bucks’ star power. It was a tough break for a team that looked poised to make a deep run.
A Bright Future for the NBA Cup
The 2024 NBA Cup showed us what this midseason tournament could become. It’s not just an experiment anymore—it’s a legitimate showcase for the league’s best players and teams. For Milwaukee, this win is more than just a trophy. It’s a statement that they’re serious contenders for the NBA Championship. For Oklahoma City, it’s proof that their young core is on the right track, even if they came up short this time.
As fans, we got everything we could’ve hoped for: high-stakes games, incredible performances, and moments we’ll be talking about for a long time. The NBA Cup is still new, but after this year, one thing is clear—it’s here to stay.
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