A new era for The Basketball Tournament
The Basketball Tournament, known as TBT, was founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Jon Mugar, who has built a niche in sports‑entertainment events that blend alumni pride with high‑stakes competition.
In its biggest overhaul since inception, the 2026 edition will shrink the field from 64 to 16 teams and split them into college alumni and non‑alumni brackets, each playing a four‑game best‑of‑three series before the final.
The prize pool has been doubled to $2 million, and the tournament has secured a two‑year media rights agreement with Fox Sports, which will air 20 games on its flagship channel, FS1 and FS2.
The revamped structure draws inspiration from The Soccer Tournament (TST), another venture created by Mugar in 2022 that features a 7‑on‑7, winner‑takes‑all format and a media deal with ESPN.
The 2026 field
Eight alumni teams will represent schools such as Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas, Kansas State, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Wichita State and New Mexico, while eight non‑alumni squads will consist mainly of former college stars and current professionals.
The non‑alumni bracket will be single‑elimination and held at the M Resort in Las Vegas from July 22 to 30, with teams paying entrance fees between $125,000 and $250,000.
A new roster rule mandates that at least seven of the 11 players on each team must have attended the school, and Mugar hopes that colleges will eventually field their own squads as they explore Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.
Former college standouts including Michael Beasley, Willie Cauley‑Stein, Frank Mason III, Russ Smith, Donovan Dent, Isaiah Whitehead and Buddy Boeheim are slated to compete, and the event will also feature captains Baron Davis and Dee Gordon.
Beyond the court, the tournament’s growth reflects a broader ambition to monetize college‑affiliated basketball while providing a platform for players to showcase their talents in a high‑profile setting.