The 25 most important players in the NBA Cup knockout rounds

The knockout rounds of the NBA Cup take center stage as the league’s second annual tournament advances this season from the group stage, where the field was limited to eight teams, toward crowning a champion in Las Vegas.

The knockout phase begins on Tuesday with two quarterfinal games: The Milwaukee Bucks host the Orlando Magic, followed by the Dallas Mavericks at the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Wednesday the Atlanta Hawks face the New York Knicks, then the Golden State Warriors welcome the Houston Rockets. The winners advance to the semi-finals on Saturday before the championship next Tuesday.

Ahead of quarterfinal games on the higher seeds’ home courts, let’s take a look at some of the key players to watch in the NBA Cup, particularly two two-time MVPs: Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks and Stephen Curry of the Warriors.

While these two former champions will look to build on past successes, the NBA Cup is also an important opportunity for rising stars looking to emulate the stardom of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who played in last year’s championship game against the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a defeat. This is particularly an important stage for young stars like Alperen Sengun of the Rockets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder.

From stars to key players, let’s break down the top 25 players to keep an eye on as the NBA Cup knockout phase begins.

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Superstars in the spotlight
Key playmakers | Veteran boost
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Superstars in the spotlight