Hall of Famer Charles Barkley dismissed the NBA's in-season tournament, calling it “embarrassing" and questioning why players need extra pay to compete.

But Charles Barkley believes the concept of the Cup itself is “embarrassing.” “I think the cup thing is somewhat embarrassing,” Barkley told media personality Tom Tolbert on his YouTube show (via Awful Announcing). “I’m disappointed that we have to make an in-season tournament to make these guys more money so they won’t do load management.”

For those of you who wondered why Victor Wembanyama was tearful after the San Antonio Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Cup final, it wasn't about basketball for him. "I'm sorry, I lost somebody today," Wembanyama said to reporters before taking one more question and heading out.

New York rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to beat San Antonio 124-113 in the NBA Cup championship game. OG Anunoby led New York with 28 points, and Jalen Brunson added 25. Brunson was named the NBA Cup MVP. Dylan Harper paced San Antonio with 21.

Multiple human rights organizations are petitioning the National Basketball Association (NBA) to drop Dubai’s government-owned Emirates airline as a sponsor of the league’s in-season tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup,

The NBA pushes players to perform at their highest level using one clear motivator: money. The Emirates NBA Cup offers cash incentives for players and coaches.

With San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama now back, the team may soon be forced to make a drastic change.