How much is the NBA Cup trophy worth? Size, weight and what it is made of

The NBA Cup trophy, awarded to the winners of the league’s In-Season Tournament, is an impressive piece of hardware. In its second year, the tournament - a well-intentioned effort to inject energy into the early season - still hasn’t fully caught fire. Excitement has been sporadic, star participation uneven, and plenty of fans remain unsure what to make of it.

That said, as is often the case when it comes around, the stakes feel bigger for tonight’s final. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks will face off for the 2024 NBA Cup, following last year’s win by LeBron James and the Lakers in the inaugural edition. What’s that? You want to see the trophy presentation? OK then...

The NBA Cup’s design and materials

The trophy itself remains an eye-catcher, even if some neutrals won’t be tuning in for the game. Weighing 35 pounds, it’s crafted from sterling silver, black ceramic, and finished with 24-karat gold. Designed by Tiffany & Co. with input from artist Victor Solomon, the NBA Cup stands 23 inches tall – a nod, they say, to the tournament’s 2023 debut. This is how it was unveiled back then.

Symbolism is built into every inch of the trophy. Its eight golden prongs represent the eight teams that make the knockout round, while the 30 net-shaped openings on the base reflect the league’s 30 teams. At 35 pounds, the trophy’s weight also serves as a subtle acknowledgement of the competition’s structure: the initial group stage featuring five teams in six groups. Too many links, maybe?

How much is the NBA Cup trophy worth?

So to its price tag, the NBA hasn’t disclosed specifics. But with Tiffany & Co. at the helm and 24-karat gold in the mix, estimates put the production cost at around $50,000 or more.

Of course, the real value isn’t in its materials. Winning the NBA Cup, however skeptics might view the tournament, still gives teams and players a chance to add something new to their legacies – not to mention the $500,000 bonus for each player on the winning squad.

While the Larry O’Brien Trophy it is not, the NBA Cup’s golden finish deliberately ties it to the league’s other major awards. And both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be desperate to get their sizeable hands on it tonight.

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