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5 Big Ten basketball arenas that should host an NBA Cup final

In case you hadn’t heard, NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently floated the idea of moving the league’s in-season tournament championship, the NBA Cup, to “storied college arenas.”

Well, your favorite college basketball conference just so happens to be loaded with historic arenas that could, and should, absolutely play host to the event. Nobody’s packed a fieldhouse in the winter quite like the Midwest (and the Northeast… and the West Coast… because the Big Ten is just everywhere now).

Here’s six that should host the final:

Mackey Arena, Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Purdue Pete dances with the crowd during a college basketball game between the Akron Zips and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 16, 2025 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This one’s a no-brainer.

Mackey is packed and rocking for every single game from Indiana to Southern Indiana. There isn’t a bad seat in the entire bowl, it’s rich with history, it gets louder than pretty much everywhere else in the country and its in the state that appreciates the sport perhaps more than any other.

Think about it: LeBron James and Luka Doncic shaking hands with Purdue Pete as a part of player intros.

Assembly Hall, Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2024/03/25: Indiana University’s Mackenzie Holmes (54) celebrates with fans after the Hoosiers beat Oklahoma University 75-68 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers defeated Oklahoma University 75-68 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

This one’s another no-brainer. Perhaps no arena carries as much historical weight in the Big Ten as Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

Basketball’s brightest stars taking the court in a venerated building that’s played host to countless legends of the hardwood, from Michael Jordan to Isiah Thomas to every kid from Indiana who didn’t sign with the Hoosiers hitting more 3s than they ever have before for the other team. The banners commemorating the Hoosiers’ five national championships and THE No. 1 all-time March Madness team, the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers, looming overhead, in danger of coming down should Victor Wembanyama jump too high on a block attempt.

Pinnacle Bank Arena, Nebraska

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - JANUARY 9: Fans storm the court after the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Purdue Boilermakers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 9, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

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This one is honestly perfect.

If you’ve tuned in for a volleyball match or the men’s or women’s basketball Huskers, you know they bring the energy in Lincoln. One of the league’s more underappreciated arenas, the NBA Cup would bring high level professional basketball to mid-America, which is leagues away from most NBA cities.

Few do fandom quite like the Huskers, they’ve earned a shot.

The Breslin Center, Michigan State

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 18: Michigan State Spartans guard Tre Holloman (5) celebrates with fans during a college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and Purdue Boilermakers on February 18, 2025 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Given all the players he’s sent their way, the NBA could certainly do Tom Izzo a favor in return.

The Breslin Center is a fantastic arena full of history with a statue of Magic Johnson, one of the very best players to ever lift a basketball, not too far away. Michigan State obviously has all the history and owns the league’s most recent national title. Plus, it’d give Jaren Jackson Jr., Draymond Green or even Devin Booker (yeah yeah he went to Kentucky but he’s made enough of a deal about MSU) a chance to suit up back home.

Pauley Pavilion, UCLA

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 24, 2024: UCLA fans get rowdy and wave long balloons while South Carolina is at the foul line at Pauley Pavilion on November 24, 2024 in Westwood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

This one’s a bit conflicting.

On one hand, it is very much a historic arena. On the other, it’s not traditionally the Big Ten’s. Also, it’s not like Los Angeles is an area of the country hurting for hoops, especially at the professional level.

But enough legends have walked this court to merit consideration. There’s going to be more than a few big time sporting events happening in LA in the coming years and this gives the NBA a way t0 put something there without just giving it to the Lakers or Clippers.

BONUS: The Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State

College Wrestling: Wide view of fans and arena during Penn State vs Iowa matches at Bryce Jordan Center. University Park, PA 2/10/2018 CREDIT: Fred Vuich (Photo by Fred Vuich /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X161737 TK1 )

C’mon, why not.

The NBA Cup final? On a cold Tuesday night in the BJC? Great. Ideal, even. Think of Jalen Brunson hitting his third 3-pointer in a row as the broadcast, for the millionth time, goes “Well it might be cold outside but it’s heatin’ up in here!”

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