18
Jun
Code Sports
Salaries ignited: New tournament to reap benefits for players
Illawarra Hawks players celebrates their win after game five of the NBL Grand Final Series between Illawarra Hawks and Melbourne United at WIN Entertainment Centre, on March 23, 2025, in Wollongong, Australia. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.
60% of the NBL's Ignite Cup's prize money will go directly to the players, with 40% going to clubs.
- $400,000 will be on offer across the Ignite Cup
- The Ignite Cup will see 21 games added to the NBL26 fixture
- The tournament is rumored to be heading to Free-To-Air TV
The NBL’s players will receive the biggest prize money reward in league history as part of a new in-season tournament dubbed the Ignite Cup, reports Code Sports Basketball's Matt Logue.
In a bid to give the NBL regular season a boost, officials have created an exciting Wednesday night competition with big cash on the table for the winners.
There is a massive total prize pool of $400,000, with $300,000 for the winning team and $100,000 for the runner-up.
In a league-first, 60 per cent of the prize money will go directly to players, and the remaining 40 per cent to clubs.
All Ignite Cup games will count towards the regular season standings, with the first games to start on October 8.
The tournament – which will add an extra 21 games to the schedule - culminates in a standalone Ignite Cup Final to be played outside of the traditional NBL draw.
The new tournament will also unveil an innovative scoring system to maintain interest throughout the entire game.
The winning team will receive three points, while teams earn one point for winning each individual quarter.
If both clubs score the same number of points in a quarter, they each receive 0.5 points.
This format ensures every quarter is a high-stakes “mini-battle” for crucial ladder points.
The Ignite Cup will aim to establish Wednesday nights as unmissable midweek blockbusters
NBL Ignite Cup – Key Features
- 21 extra games locked in
- Record prize money: $400,000
- Wednesday night prime-time games
- Players receive 60% of winnings
- New points system: every quarter counts
- Every game impacts the regular season race
- Top two teams face off in the Ignite Cup Final
Ignite Cup Fixtures
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
- New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks
- Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- Tasmania JackJumpers vs Sydney Kings
- Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Tasmania JackJumpers vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
- Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
- Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- New Zealand Breakers vs Sydney Kings
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
- South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Cairns Taipans vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
- South East Melbourne Phoenix vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers
- Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Preseason Movement: Blitz Heads to Canberra
In addition to the in-season tournament news, sources indicate the NBL is also finalising plans to hold the 2025 NBL Blitz in Canberra. This marks a change from the previous two years when the league's preseason tournament was hosted on the Gold Coast.
The tentative start date for the Blitz is August 28, 2025, giving fans in the nation's capital an opportunity to see all NBL teams in action before the regular season begins.
This move continues the NBL's strategy of taking elite basketball to different regions across Australia. Canberra, with its strong basketball community but no current NBL franchise, represents an ideal location to showcase their potential to the league of reacquiring a team.
HoopsFest back in Perth in 2026
HoopsFest has been moved to the summer school holidays in Perth, Western Australia in 2026 — and Bryce Cotton will be there.
Former Perth Wildcats superstar Cotton will be back in Perth potentially for the first time with the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, January 18, 2026 to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
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