NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made an intriguing statement prior to the NBA Cup title game featuring the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks, suggesting that some “storied college arenas” might host future NBA Cup title games, moving away from Las Vegas where the games have been held for the last three years.

“We’ve loved our experience in Vegas,” Silver said on the NBA on Prime pregame show. “We’re talking with Amazon Prime about whether it makes sense to maybe go to some unique locations for the final game. They’ve suggested, for example, some storied college arenas. So we’re just looking at other ways to do this.”
Translation: Silver is open to exploring new locations for the NBA Cup finals, seeking unique venues.

This comment led to a discussion on the Eye on College Basketball podcast, where CBS Sports’ analysts Matt Norlander and Gary Parrish weighed in on possible college arenas that could host these games. Parrish listed several venues including:

• Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)
• Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)
• The Palestra (Penn)

“Take two of the best professional basketball teams in the world, some of the best basketball players on the planet and put them at Cameron Indoor,” Parrish noted. “I know it has a capacity of only 9,314. But what does that mean? We sell 9,000 fewer tickets for one game? It’s fine.”
Translation: Parrish emphasizes that even a smaller venue could enhance the experience despite fewer tickets being available.

Norlander remarked on his preferences, highlighting:

• Rupp Arena (Kentucky)
• Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)
• Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler)

“I love the idea of going to a state that does not have an NBA franchise because of the nature of the event, and the unique nature of the event, you might be able to get people who are more willing to come that never have,” Norlander explained.
Translation: Norlander believes that hosting games in non-NBA areas could attract new fans and audiences.

The prospects of the next NBA Cup title game taking place at a college facility remains uncertain, but Silver’s Duke alumni status adds an interesting layer to the discussion.