NBL to reward players with biggest prize money in history as part of new mid-season tournament
Record prize money, of which 60 per cent will funnel directly to players, will be up for grabs when the NBL launches its new blockbuster in-season tournament.
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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.
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.
Coming soonâš¡ï¸ pic.twitter.com/6s6qJWmvGB
— NBL (@NBL) June 17, 2025
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.
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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
The fan-first approach promises new entertainment and energy.
The quarter-by-quarter drama ensures constant intensity beyond just the final game score.
There will be never-before-seen updates to the visual spectacle for broadcast and in-game experience.
Originally published as NBL to reward players with biggest prize money in history as part of new mid-season tournament
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