NBA G League United defeated Lithuania’s Rytas Vilnius 89-86 in the final of the 36th FIBA Intercontinental Cup, winning the title in front of 8,342 fans at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, on Sunday.
The victory made NBA G League United the first team from the United States to win the competition since the Maryland Terrapins in 1974.
The American select team had reached the final in 2024 and 2025 but lost to Spain’s Unicaja on both occasions in Singapore. Its 2024 appearance had already made it the first team from the United States to reach the final in 50 years.
United States Claims Sixth Title
With the 2026 triumph, the United States has now produced six championship-winning teams in the competition’s history.
The Akron Goodyear Wingfoots won three consecutive titles from 1967 to 1969, followed by the NABL All-Stars in 1972 and the Maryland Terrapins in 1974. NBA G League United added the sixth title for the country in 2026.
Europe remains the most successful continent in the competition’s history, with 24 first-place finishes.
The final attracted 8,342 spectators, setting a record for attendance at a championship game in the modern era of the competition. It surpassed the previous mark of 8,205 fans recorded in Singapore last year.
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Eric Dixon Leads NBA G League United to Victory
NBA G League United advanced to the final after defeating hosts Beijing Royal Fighters of China and Argentina’s Boca Juniors, the Basketball Champions League Americas winners, during the group stage. They then eliminated Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers, champions of the Basketball Africa League, in the semi-finals.
In the final, coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah’s team built a 13-point lead with six minutes remaining. However, Rytas Vilnius fought back and tied the game twice in the final 90 seconds.
Eric Dixon responded on both occasions, scoring a three-pointer before adding a left-handed hook shot. Sean East II then secured the victory from the free-throw line.
Dixon finished with 18 points in the final and was named Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, recording a team-high efficiency rating of 15.8.
The 25-year-old received the award from Luis Scola, the basketball legend and ambassador for the 2026 tournament.
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RSSB Tigers Finish Fourth
Earlier on Sunday, Boca Juniors defeated Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers 93-62 to secure third place in the tournament.
On Saturday, Beijing Royal Fighters defeated Shanghai Sharks 101-87 to finish fifth. The result meant that the Zhejiang Golden Bulls’ third-place finish in 2023 remained the best performance by a Chinese team in the competition’s history.
The final standings were:
- NBA G League United — United States
- Rytas Vilnius — Lithuania
- Club Atlético Boca Juniors — Argentina
- RSSB Tigers — Rwanda
- Beijing Royal Fighters — China
- Shanghai Sharks — China
Beijing to Host Tournament Through 2028
The 2026 edition was the first FIBA Intercontinental Cup held in Beijing. The Chinese capital is scheduled to remain the host city through 2028.
Meanwhile, Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid remains the most successful club in the competition’s history, having won the trophy five times.
