TBT Championship: La Familia vs. Davis Steel – Watch the Final Live
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026 Championship: Everything You Need to Know
Championship Schedule
Sunday, August 2, 2026
1:00 PM ET – Davis Steel vs. La Familia (Kentucky Alumni)
Location: Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Kentucky
Watch on: FOX, FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App
Important: This is a winner-take-all game for a $2 million prize – the largest purse since 2019.
How to Watch the TBT Championship
You can catch all the action live on:
- FOX (broadcast TV)
- FOX One (streaming)
- FOXSports.com (website)
- FOX Sports App (mobile/tablet)
What’s on the Line?
- Grand Prize: $2 million – winner takes everything
- Bragging Rights: 2026 TBT Champions
- History: Largest TBT purse since 2019
Meet the Finalists
La Familia (Kentucky Alumni) – Host Team
Path to the Championship:
- Alumni Bracket Round 1: Beat The Ville (Louisville Alumni) 2-1 in a best-of-three series
- Alumni Semifinals: Rallied past Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse Alumni) 70-66
- Alumni Bracket Final: Defeated JHX Hoops (Kansas Alumni) 78-65
Earned the right to host the championship by winning the Alumni Bracket.
Davis Steel – Non-Alumni Team
Path to the Championship:
- Group Play (Las Vegas Bracket): Finished 1st in Group A → earned a bye to semifinals
- Las Vegas Semifinals: Beat Red Rose War Ready 83-67
- Las Vegas Bracket Final: Edged The Mecca 71-69 on Thursday
Matchup Storyline: Kentucky alumni squad vs. one of the tournament’s top non-alumni teams.
What Is The Basketball Tournament (TBT)?
TBT is an annual summer basketball tournament featuring former college stars. Here’s how it works:
- 14 teams total in 2026 (smaller field)
- Two separate brackets:
- Alumni Bracket (8 teams): Former players from specific colleges → play best-of-three series to start
- Vegas Bracket (6 teams): Non-alumni teams → round-robin groups → knockout rounds in Las Vegas
- Championship: Alumni Bracket winner vs. Vegas Bracket winner → single game, winner-take-all $2M
The Elam Ending – TBT’s Unique Finish
Important: TBT uses the Elam Ending – no game clock in the 4th quarter!
How it works:
- Game clock turns off at the first dead ball under 4 minutes in the 4th quarter
- Target Score = Leading team’s score + 8 points
- First team to reach the target score WINS (no overtime, no clock management)
Example: If Team A leads 78-75 when the clock stops → Target Score = 86. First to 86 wins!
The Purse
- Winner-take-all: $2,000,000
- Largest TBT prize pool since 2019
- Split among players on the winning roster
Last Year’s Champion (2025)
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | AfterShocks (Wichita State Alumni) | Eberlein Drive |
Summary
- TBT 2026 Championship: Sunday, Aug 2 at 1 PM ET on FOX/FOX One
- Teams: La Familia (Kentucky Alumni) vs. Davis Steel
- Venue: Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY (La Familia hosts)
- Prize: $2 million winner-take-all
- Format: Elam Ending (target score, no clock in 4th quarter)
- 2025 Champ: AfterShocks (Wichita State Alumni)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What time does the TBT championship start?
1:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
2. Where can I stream the game for free?
You can stream on FOXSports.com or the FOX Sports App (may require TV provider login). FOX One also streams the broadcast.
3. How does the Elam Ending work exactly?
At the first stoppage under 4 minutes in the 4th quarter, the clock turns off. A target score is set (leader’s score + 8). First team to hit that score wins – no more clock, just pure basketball.
4. Why does La Familia get to host?
They won the Alumni Bracket, which earns the right to host the championship game at their home arena (Memorial Coliseum in Lexington).
5. Is this the biggest prize in TBT history?
It’s the largest since 2019 – a $2 million winner-take-all purse, split among the winning team’s players.
