Amanda Knapp
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination basketball tournament played in the summer across the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar. TBT has a USD 1 million winner-take-all prize and has crowned eleven champions, awarding more than $17 million in prizes. The tournament has featured several current and former NBA and WNBA players, including Hakim Warrick, Nikki Teasley, and Greg Oden. TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules, including 9-minute quarters and six fouls per player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | The Basketball Tournament |
| Type of Tournament | Single-elimination |
| Year of Inception | 2014 |
| Founder | Jonathan Mugar |
| Number of Teams | 64 (varies each year) |
| Prize Money | $1 million |
| Rules | Modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules |
| Notable Participants | Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, Nikki Teasley, Greg Oden, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Bobby Portis, Andre Drummond |
| Notable Teams | Buffalo, Marquette, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Syracuse, Boeheim's Army, Embrace The Pace, The Ville |
| Host | Airs on Fox and Fox Sports 1 (FS1) in the U.S. |
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What You'll Learn
- TBT stands for The Basketball Tournament, a US summer event
- TBT uses modified NCAA rules, with 9-minute quarters
- TBT has a \$1 million prize, won by Overseas Elite four times
- TBT has had NBA players participate, and support from active NBA players
- TBT 2025 will be hosted in Louisville, Charlottesville, and Indianapolis
TBT stands for The Basketball Tournament, a US summer event
The rules of TBT are based on NCAA men's basketball rules with some modifications. Games are played in 9-minute quarters, and players foul out after their 6th personal foul. Bonus free-throw rules follow NCAA women's and FIBA rules, and FIBA rules on basket interference are followed except on free throws. TBT has also introduced innovations such as the Elam Ending®, which aims to reduce the number of games ending on free throws.
The tournament takes place across various regions in the US, with host teams having the advantage of playing on their home court. The winner of each regional advances to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, where the $1 million prize is awarded. TBT has crowned eleven champions to date and awarded more than $17 million in prizes.
The event has gained popularity, with active NBA players showing their support and teams receiving fan support from players like Kyle Lowry and Obi Toppin. TBT provides an opportunity for alumni teams to reconnect and compete, with universities hosting the tournament on their campuses. The University of Virginia, for example, hosted the tournament in 2025 for the first time, with their alumni team "Embrace The Pace" participating.
TBT has expanded beyond basketball with the introduction of The Soccer Tournament (TST) in June 2023, showcasing its ability to host high-stakes, open-application sporting events on a global scale.
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TBT uses modified NCAA rules, with 9-minute quarters
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the summer across the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 and has since crowned eleven champions, awarded over $17 million in prizes, and introduced innovations like the Elam Ending®.
TBT uses a modified version of the NCAA men's basketball rules. The 2019 edition of the tournament featured some significant exceptions to the standard NCAA rules:
- Games are played in 9-minute quarters instead of 20-minute halves (or the 10-minute quarters of the NCAA women's game).
- Players foul out upon their 6th personal foul instead of the 5th.
- Bonus free throws follow NCAA women's and FIBA rules, with two free throws on the 5th and subsequent non-shooting fouls by the defense in a quarter. An exception is made for fouls during the Elam Ending, where the non-fouling team is awarded one free throw and possession of the ball.
- FIBA rules on basket interference are followed, except on free throws. Once the ball hits the rim on a field goal attempt, any player from either team can play the ball, regardless of its movement or position.
TBT has featured several current and former NBA and WNBA players, such as Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Nikki Teasley, and Greg Oden. The tournament has also seen active NBA players like Kyle Lowry and Obi Toppin show their support for various teams. With a $1 million prize for the winners, TBT is the highest-stakes basketball tournament in the world.
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TBT has a \$1 million prize, won by Overseas Elite four times
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination basketball tournament played each summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar. TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules. The number of teams playing in the tournament has varied since its establishment, ranging from 24 to 97 teams. In recent years, the tournament has settled into a 64-team field. The tournament has had several notable participants, including current and former NBA and WNBA players.
TBT offers a substantial cash prize to the winning team, which was $1 million in 2024. The prize money has fluctuated over the years, starting at $500,000 in 2014 and increasing to $1 million in 2015. From 2016 to 2019, the prize money was $2 million, before returning to $1 million in 2020.
Overseas Elite, an American basketball team, dominated TBT from 2015 to 2018, winning the tournament four consecutive times and claiming the $1 million prize in 2015. The team was comprised of professional basketball players competing outside of the NBA, including former college players and current international players. Overseas Elite continued their success in 2016, defeating Team Colorado 77-72 to claim the increased prize of $2 million. Kyle Fogg, an Arizona alumnus, was named MVP for his outstanding performance.
In 2017, Overseas Elite solidified their dominance by defeating Team Challenge ALS 86-83 to become three-time TBT champions. Fogg once again shone, securing his second MVP title. The team's winning streak extended into 2018, where they defeated Eberlein Drive 70-58. D.J. Kennedy, a former college basketball player for St. John's, was named MVP for the second time, contributing to Overseas Elite's remarkable four-year reign.
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TBT has had NBA players participate, and support from active NBA players
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The tournament has a cash prize, with the most recent tournament in 2024 offering $1 million to the winners. TBT has seen the participation of several current and former NBA players, including Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, Royal Ivey, Matt Bonner, Jimmer Fredette, and Brian Scalabrine. The 2018 tournament marked the return of Greg Oden to the basketball court, and the 2019 tournament was expected to feature an active female professional, Megan Gustafson, although she was ultimately unable to participate.
TBT has also received support from active NBA players, with Kyle Lowry and Obi Toppin being fans of the tournament. In 2016, NBA players such as John Wall, Kristaps Porzingis, Rudy Gay, Shaun Livingston, Chandler Parsons, and Austin Rivers served as boosters for different teams. The following year, Carmelo Anthony hosted the tournament in Baltimore, where he played high school basketball. TBT saw even greater NBA involvement in 2019, with Chris Paul and DeMarcus Cousins entering teams, while Bobby Portis and Andre Drummond coached TBT sides.
Many teams in TBT feature professional players reunited under a former college or university name. These teams are arranged by the general manager, sometimes based on the college basketball program the players competed for. TBT has had as many as 97 teams in 2015 and as few as 24 teams in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2016, the tournament has typically featured a 64-team field.
TBT provides a platform for current and former NBA players to showcase their skills and connect with fans, while also offering a unique opportunity for up-and-coming players to gain exposure and make a name for themselves in the basketball world. The tournament's format, with its large number of teams and single-elimination structure, creates an exciting and dynamic environment for players and fans alike.
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TBT 2025 will be hosted in Louisville, Charlottesville, and Indianapolis
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and it airs on Fox and its sister network Fox Sports 1 (FS1). TBT 2025 will be hosted in Louisville, Charlottesville, and Indianapolis from July 18th to August 3rd.
Louisville, Kentucky, will host TBT for the third consecutive year, building on the success of the last two years at Freedom Hall. Freedom Hall has returned as one of TBT's best-attended venues, hosting four of the tournament's ten largest crowds. The Ville, the Louisville alumni team, will return as the featured team in the eight-team Louisville Regional. Commitments for the 2025 The Ville roster currently include Russ Smith, with Luke Hancock as general manager.
Charlottesville, Virginia, will host a TBT regional for the first time, with the University of Virginia (UVa) fielding an alumni team for the first time as well. The Virginia Regional will include eight teams, including Embrace The Pace, a Virginia alumni team led by Kyle Guy and Kihei Clark, who were members of the Cavaliers' 2019 national championship team. The Virginia Regional will be played at John Paul Jones Arena from July 18th to 23rd.
Indianapolis, Indiana, will also host a TBT regional. Ferrell and Blackmon Jr. will lead Indiana's alumni team in the Indianapolis Regional from July 19th to 22nd. Jimmy Boeheim will join his brother Buddy on Boeheim's Army roster, where their father, Jim Boeheim, will serve as Head Coach Emeritus.
TBT 2025 will feature a 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event, with the winning team taking home the cash prize. Teams in TBT are arranged by the general manager, sometimes based on which college basketball program the players competed for. TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules, with some exceptions, such as 9-minute quarters instead of 20-minute halves.
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Frequently asked questions
TBT stands for The Basketball Tournament.
The first TBT tournament was held in 2014.
TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules. The most significant exceptions are: games are played in 9-minute quarters instead of 20-minute halves, players foul out after their 6th personal foul, and bonus free throw rules follow NCAA women's and FIBA rules.
TBT is an open-invitation tournament, and anyone can participate. Teams in TBT are arranged by the general manager and often include former college or university players. Several current and former NBA and WNBA players have participated in TBT, including Hakim Warrick, Nikki Teasley, and Carmelo Anthony.
