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Desmond Bane Has Extra Motivation to Win NBA Cup After Recent Fine
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The Magic are off to Las Vegas for the semifinals of the NBA Cup on the heels of a massive 37-point night from Desmond Bane in the knockout round against the Heat Tuesday.
Bane was recently fined $35,000 for throwing a basketball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby in an unsportsmanlike manner. He was trying to retain possession as the play headed out of bounds, but the ball was thrown with so much force that he was given a technical foul and a hit to his pocket book after review by the league office.
Luckily for Bane, the Magic are still alive in the NBA Cup which nets a considerable cash prize for the eventual winner. He remembered that following the big night Tuesday, after the Magic defeated the Heat 117–108.
“It’s huge, I mean I just lost $35,000 so I got to go get it back somehow,” Bane joked with reporters about advancing in the NBA Cup postgame. “I’m excited, great opportunity for us to play some meaningful basketball early in the season so I know the group’s excited.”
Desmond Bane on advancing to NBA Cup Semifinals:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 10, 2025
“I just lost $35,000. I gotta go get it back somehow.” pic.twitter.com/FCrwU83zMl
He made six three-pointers and added six rebounds and five assists during the win over Miami. The Magic will now meet the Knicks in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas Saturday where Anunoby has an opportunity to hold Bane from getting some extra money, ironically.
What are the NBA Cup payouts?
Bane will make up for the fine and then some either way with Orlando’s solid performances through NBA Cup play. Each player from teams who advance to the knockout round gets a considerable payout, which increases with each round advanced. Here are the 2025 NBA Cup payouts per player, according to Front Office Sports:
NBA Cup round | Payout |
|---|---|
Champion | $530,933 |
Runner-up | $212,373 |
Semifinalist | $106,187 |
Quarterfinalist | $53,093 |
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Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA. Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk. He’s an alum of both Michigan State and St. Bonaventure University, receiving a master’s degree from the Bonnies’ sports journalism program. Outside of work, he’s a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player who’s open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.