BEIJING (China) - NBA G League United became the first team from the United States to win the FIBA Intercontinental Cup since the Maryland Terrapins in 1974, defeating Rytas Vilnius from Lithuania 89-86 in the Final.
The select team made the Final in both 2024 and 2025, losing to Unicaja on both occasions in Singapore, already making history as the first team from the USA to reach the Final in 50 years.
With this result, the United States have now had six championship winning teams, as the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots won three in a row from 1967 to 1969, the NABL All-Stars finished on top in 1972, the Maryland Terrapins in 1974, and now, the NBA G League United in 2026.
Europe remains the most successful continent in this event's history with a total of 24 first place finishes.
The Final was played in front of 8,342 fans in Beijing, the most in the modern era of this competition, beating the mark set in Singapore last year, when 8,205 attended the championship game.
At this year's event in China, the NBA G League United defeated the Beijing Royal Fighters (China, hosts) and Boca Juniors (Argentina, Basketball Champions League Americas winners) in the group phase, before eliminating the RSSB Tigers (Rwanda, Basketball Africa League champions) in the Semi-Finals.
In the Final, coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah saw his men open up a 13-point lead with six minutes left to play, but Rytas Vilnius had another comeback in them, tying the game twice in the final 90 seconds.
However, both times it was Eric Dixon who had the answers, as the power forward knocked down a three-pointer and followed it up with a lefty hook, setting the stage for Sean East II to ice the game from the free throw line.
Dixon was not only the key player in the Final with 18 points, but was also named the Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026, averaging 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and an efficiency rating of 15.8 per game, the most on his team.
The 25-year-old received his award from Luis Scola, a legend of the game, and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026 Ambassador.
Earlier on Sunday, Boca Juniors defeated the RSSB Tigers 93-62 to finish third in the standings.
On Saturday, the Beijing Royal Fighters defeated Shanghai Sharks 101-87 to finish fifth in this event, meaning the Zhejiang Golden Bulls' third-place finish from 2023 remains the best result by a Chinese team in Intercontinental Cup history.
Final Standings:
NBA G League United (United States)
Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania)
Club Atletico Boca Juniors (Argentina)
RSSB Tigers (Rwanda)
Beijing Royal Fighters (China)
Shanghai Sharks (China)
The event in 2026 was the first held in Beijing, China. The city will remain the host of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup through 2028.
Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid remain the most successful club in FIBA Intercontinental Cup history, having won the trophy on five occasions.