National League Cup

National League Cup is Israel’s premier national basketball cup competition, open to clubs from the top divisions and often featuring a mix of seasoned giants and rising underdogs. The tournament operates as a knockout cup with a rich history of upsets, and in several editions it has included a group-stage phase to seed teams before the elimination rounds. This format blend creates high-stakes basketball and an electric playoff atmosphere that fans chase all season. The cup crowns a national champion and offers a tangible prize, prestige, and a path to domestic bragging rights alongside the league title. Typically held during the basketball season, the National League Cup runs from fall through winter, with early rounds in October–November, a group-stage or round-of-16 phase in December–February, and a grand final in March or April. Key facts: clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem, and Hapoel Holon have lifted the trophy, while smaller clubs regularly pull off memorable upsets in spite of the odds. Notable players often shine in these knockout-showdowns, making every match a must-see. Fans follow the cup for the drama, the chance of a historic upset, and the atmosphere that only knockout basketball can deliver.