With the recent Emirates NBA Cup viewed as a success across the basketball community, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has outlined what may come next.
The midseason tournament has been promoted aggressively by the league, featuring special courts for games. Adding to the excitement for players and fans, the semifinals and beyond are not held in team arenas but at a neutral site in Las Vegas. However, the event may soon move away from that location.
NBA Cup Finals May Shift to a New Site Outside Las Vegas
One of the most compelling aspects of NBA games is the impact of the crowd. An energized home audience can rally its team, while road teams often struggle in hostile environments.
As a result, the site of the NBA Cup championship game has become a subject of debate. Since the tournament’s inception, the league has chosen to stage the latter rounds in Las Vegas.
The NBA Summer League and several league-related events are already tied to Las Vegas. There are also persistent rumors that the city could be awarded an NBA franchise if league expansion moves forward.
Still, Silver and league officials are not fully committed to keeping the NBA Cup Finals in Las Vegas. According to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, the league is evaluating alternatives, including prominent college basketball venues.
“The NBA has Duke and Cameron Indoor Stadium as among their strong options as a cup championship game host potentially as soon as 2026,” he said Wednesday on NBA Today. “So as the league explores outside of Las Vegas…Could there be a high-level college program like Duke to host a game?”
Charania concluded, “So imagine in December, having the NBA Cup championship game among the crazies there in North Carolina.”
Given the number of colleges with elite basketball programs and facilities capable of hosting a marquee event, the idea is intriguing. However, Cameron Indoor Stadium seats just over 9,300 fans, which could limit attendance.
During a recent interview, Silver acknowledged that the league is actively considering alternatives for the midseason tournament finals.
“We’re talking with Amazon Prime about whether it makes sense to maybe go to some unique locations for the final game,” Silver said. “They’ve suggested, for example, some storied college arenas. So, we’re just looking at other ways we could do this.”
The most recent NBA Cup Finals between the Knicks and Spurs drew 18,609 fans, a figure that would be difficult to match in most college arenas.
Still, it is clear that the NBA remains open to change and continues to explore ways to enhance the fan experience. The 2026-27 season could provide further clarity on whether a new venue becomes a reality.
