Recent reports have led the college basketball universe to believe that they can participate in what is rapidly becoming a fan-favorite event, the NBA Cup.
That is right, there appears to be smoke around some of our favorite, historical stadiums to play host to the championship in the Cup, which has been wildly successful over its two-year history.
“But to be honest with you, why wouldn't they want to come here?” Quoted Kansas head coach Bill Self earlier this afternoon, when asked about the potential of Allen Fieldhouse hosting a matchup.
“Good gosh, if they're gonna try to play at historic college venues, why wouldn't the NBA want to be here? I know KD [Kevin Durant] said, at one time, that this was the best place that he'd ever played. So I don't know if that still holds true, but I would think that would be a great option.”
So far this season, the Fieldhouse has already hit ear-piercing levels, when hosting the No. 5 UConn Huskies, the anticipation created a tangible intensity on the court by tipoff, as the Fieldhouse squeezed in 15,300 people, the max capacity listed.
How realistic is this proposition?
Yes, this is a bit of an odd ask, but so is the NBA Cup in general. Think, 10 years ago, the idea of an in-season competition amongst an already packed NBA schedule seemed impossible, but in year two of the competition, there was already a massive spike in attention.
The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Semifinals saw a 126% year-over-year increase in social media views, with more than 400 million views across all platforms. (Source: Videocites)
The Emirates NBA Cup Championship between the @spurs and @nyknicks streams tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 16 at… pic.twitter.com/xXWBKGQk5h
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 16, 2025
Some of the biggest hypothetical locations seem to revolve around Rupp Arena, where the Kentucky Wildcats play, Cameron Indoor, where Duke has long daunted teams, Breslin Center, where Michigan State plays, and Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Big 10 Hoosiers call home.
While the NBA is still miles away from playing in Lawrence, Kansas, the Jayhawks will take to the court against the Davidson Wildcats Monday night with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT, and streaming available on ESPN+.
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