The Los Angeles Lakers have revealed their specialty court design for the 2026-27 Emirates NBA Cup, a black-and-white floor featuring 17 stars representing the franchise's NBA championships. The league and all 30 teams unveiled the custom courts on October 13, just days before the regular season begins. The Lakers, the tournament's inaugural champions, are looking to return to the winner's circle after a recent preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, 89-101, on October 13.
The court design follows a league-wide template with a black outline and white lettering using the standard "Los Angeles" font. It includes the required Michelob Ultra and Emirates NBA Cup logos. The Lakers' unique touch is on the sideline, where they've placed 17 white stars, one for each of their NBA titles. This approach is distinct from most other teams, who either left the sideline blank or added a team motto like the Milwaukee Bucks' "Fear the Deer."
Only the Boston Celtics, with Bill Russell's No. 6, and the Toronto Raptors, with a maple leaf, have taken a similar commemorative route. The fully painted courts will be used for all Group Play, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal home games during the tournament, creating a unified visual identity. The design is inspired by Nike Basketball's 2026 Standard Issue Collection, extending its bold aesthetic to the playing surface.
The full Group Stage schedule was announced earlier this summer, with games starting in the second week of the regular season. The Lakers are in a tough Western Conference group with the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, and the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. All four of the Lakers' group games are scheduled for Fridays, with three set for national television.
Their campaign begins on Friday, October 30, with a road game against the Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, tipping off at 7 p.m. PT on Prime Video. They host the Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, November 6, also at 7 p.m. PT on Prime Video. A home game against the Kings follows on Friday, November 20 at 7 p.m. PT, airing on Spectrum SportsNet. Group play concludes on Friday, November 27 with a road test against the Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio at 6:30 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
The Lakers are in the final stages of their preseason schedule, which has provided mixed results. Their most recent outing was a 89-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors on October 13. Other preseason contests included a 114-110 win over the Sacramento Kings on October 8, a 124-98 loss to the Warriors on October 6, and a dominant 127-103 victory over the Kings on October 5.
Their immediate focus shifts to their final preseason fixture, a home game against the Denver Nuggets on October 16. After that, attention will turn to the regular season opener and the fast-approaching start of the Emirates NBA Cup. The tournament's fourth season tips off on October 30, with the Lakers-Warriors clash being one of the featured national broadcasts. The full tournament schedule and team standings can be tracked on our schedule page.
The NBA Cup has quickly become a regular season staple. Last season's final was a preview of the NBA Finals, where the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers aim to add a second Cup title to their legacy, using their distinctive court as a reminder of the championship pedigree they hope to reclaim.
