Amanda Knapp
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the United States, with a cash prize for the winners. The number of teams participating has varied over the years, with 64 teams being the most common number in recent years. TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules, with some exceptions, such as shorter game quarters and different foul rules. The tournament has featured current and former NBA and WNBA players, and NBA involvement has increased over the years. TBT 2025 will be the 12th edition of the tournament and is expected to be held across eight regions, with teams featuring alumni from universities such as Louisville, West Virginia, Wichita State, Kansas, and Syracuse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Basketball Tournament (TBT) |
| Type | Single-elimination tournament |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | United States |
| Number of Teams | 64 (has varied in the past, from 24 to 97 teams) |
| Prize | $1 million |
| Rules | Modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules (e.g. 9-minute quarters, players foul out on 6th personal foul) |
| Participants | Current and former NBA and WNBA players, alumni teams |
| Hosts/Boosters | NBA players like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins |
| Dates | July 18 – August 3, 2025 |
| Tickets | On sale from May 6, 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) structure
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played over the summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and the tournament games are aired on Fox and its sister network Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
The number of teams participating in the tournament has varied over the years, ranging from 24 teams in 2020 to as many as 97 teams in 2015. However, in recent years, the tournament has typically featured a 64-team field. The teams are arranged by the general manager, sometimes based on the college basketball programs the players competed for. In 2019, for instance, the 64 teams were divided into eight regions, with each regional winner advancing to the championship venue.
TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules, with a few notable exceptions. Games are played in 9-minute quarters instead of 20-minute halves, and players foul out after their 6th personal foul instead of the 5th. Bonus free-throw rules follow NCAA women's and FIBA rules, with two free throws on the 5th and subsequent non-shooting fouls by the defence in a quarter. FIBA rules on basket interference are followed, except on free throws, and any player can play the ball once it hits the rim on a field goal attempt.
The tournament has attracted several current and former NBA and WNBA players, including Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, Nikki Teasley, and Greg Oden. Many teams feature professional players reunited under a former college or university name. TBT also offers fan-engagement opportunities, with active NBA players providing support to teams and fans submitting bracket entries for prizes.
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TBT rules
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar. The number of teams has varied since its establishment, ranging from 24 to 97 teams, but in recent years, it has settled into a 64-team field. The teams 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. Here are the key TBT 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 in the NCAA men's game).
- 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 direction or position.
- Replay review is governed by NCAA rules, but with a modification: reviews are allowed if either team is within three points of the Elam Ending target score, regardless of the time remaining in the game.
- Due to the adoption of the Elam Ending, there is no overtime in TBT games.
In addition to the rules above, TBT has a unique celebration tradition. After each game, the winning team advances a placard on a giant bracket to the next round, resembling the All Valley Karate Tournament bracket from The Karate Kid. This celebration is often posted on social media by the players.
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TBT players
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The number of teams has varied since its founding in 2014, ranging from 24 to 97, but in recent years it has settled on a 64-team field. Teams in the TBT are arranged by the general manager, sometimes based on which college basketball program the players previously competed for.
TBT has had a number of current and former NBA players participate, including Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, Royal Ivey, Matt Bonner, Jimmer Fredette, and Brian Scalabrine. Former WNBA player Nikki Teasley played in the 2014 tournament, and the 2018 tournament saw the return of Greg Oden, who last played in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2015-16 season. Many teams feature professional players reunited under a former college or university name, with teams representing states like Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas, as well as universities like UCLA and Syracuse.
The 2019 tournament was expected to be the first to feature an active female professional player. Megan Gustafson, who had been cut by the Dallas Wings before the 2019 WNBA season, was slated to play for Iowa United. However, due to injuries on the Dallas Wings, the team re-signed her, ruling her out of the TBT. In 2019, there was increased NBA involvement, with Chris Paul and DeMarcus Cousins entering teams, while Bobby Portis and Andre Drummond coached TBT sides. NBA players have also served as boosters for different teams, with John Wall, Kristaps Porzingis, and Rudy Gay among those who have shown their support in this way.
Five alumni teams have won the TBT: Buffalo, Marquette, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Syracuse. The winning team of the inaugural TBT championship in 2014 was the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni, represented by several former Fighting Irish players, including MVP Tyrone Nash. The 2015 and 2016 TBT champions were Overseas Elite, with St. John's alumnus D. J. Kennedy and Arizona alumnus Kyle Fogg being named MVPs respectively. Overseas Elite went on to become three-time TBT champions after winning again in 2017.
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TBT locations and dates
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played across several locations in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and it is currently in its 12th year. TBT features a mix of current and former NBA and WNBA players, as well as alumni teams from various colleges and universities.
TBT 2025 will take place across eight regions from July 18 to August 3. While the specific locations for this year's tournament are yet to be announced, the host cities in previous years include Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wichita, Kansas City, Syracuse, and West Virginia. Tickets for the tournament go on sale on May 6, and all regional hosts have the right to home-court advantage throughout the tournament, including the Championship Game.
In recent years, TBT has featured a 64-team field, with each regional winner advancing to the championship venue. The number of teams has varied since its establishment, ranging from 24 teams in 2020 to as many as 97 teams in 2015. The tournament has become a highly anticipated event, with increasing fan support and media coverage.
The championship prize money has also evolved over the years, starting at $500,000 in 2014 and increasing to $1 million in 2015. From 2016 to 2019, the top prize was $2 million, and since 2020, it has returned to $1 million. The prize money is awarded to the winning team's personnel, and there are also prizes for fans who submit the top-scoring bracket entries.
TBT has become a prominent fixture in the basketball world, offering high-stakes competition and the opportunity for players to reunite and represent their former college or university teams. The tournament has also expanded into soccer with The Soccer Tournament (TST), a similar winner-takes-all event featuring a smaller field and a 7-on-7 format.
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NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played annually in the United States to crown the men's college basketball national champion at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament, which was first held in 1939, has since become one of the most prestigious sporting events in the country.
The tournament consists of 68 teams, although the number of participants has varied over the years, ranging from as few as eight to as many as 68. The field was expanded from 64 to 65 teams in 2001, and then again to 68 in 2011. The tournament is known for its upsets of favoured teams, with lower-ranked schools often making deep runs.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament has a rich history, with a total of 333 teams having participated since its inception in 1938. Over time, the tournament has undergone several format changes, including the expansion from eight to 64 teams in 1985 and the introduction of a play-in game in 2001. The tournament was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event has become deeply ingrained in American popular culture, with bracket contests awarding prizes for correctly predicting game outcomes. In 2023, an estimated 60 to 100 million brackets were filled out across the country. The tournament also has a significant financial impact, with Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery paying $891 million annually for broadcast rights until 2032. The NCAA distributes a portion of this revenue to participating teams, providing crucial funding for college athletics programmes.
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Frequently asked questions
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The number of teams has varied over the years but has settled on 64 teams in recent years.
The tournament takes place in the summer, usually in July and August.
The number of teams has varied since the tournament's establishment, ranging from 24 to 97 teams. However, in recent years, the tournament has featured a 64-team field.
TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules. Current and former NBA and WNBA players have participated in the tournament, including Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, and Nikki Teasley. University alumni teams also participate in the tournament.
The winning team of TBT receives a cash prize. In 2024, the prize purse was $1 million.
