Bill Self Makes His Case: Allen Fieldhouse as a Stage for the NBA Cup?
Kansas head coach Bill Self isn’t just focused on winning games this season-he’s thinking bigger. And if his vision becomes reality, Allen Fieldhouse might just find itself at the center of one of the NBA’s most exciting new traditions: the NBA Cup.
Now in its second year, the NBA’s in-season tournament has quickly evolved from a curious experiment into a full-blown spectacle. With a surge in fan engagement and a growing appetite for fresh formats, the NBA Cup is no longer just a novelty-it’s becoming a staple. And Self wants in.
**“Why wouldn’t they want to come here?” ** Self asked, when the idea of Allen Fieldhouse hosting an NBA Cup matchup was floated.
“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.”
That kind of endorsement from one of the game’s greats doesn’t go unnoticed. Durant’s praise of Allen Fieldhouse isn’t just a throwaway compliment-it’s a nod to the building’s mystique. The Fieldhouse is more than a basketball arena; it’s a cathedral of the sport, a place where history breathes through the hardwood.
And if you’ve been there when the Jayhawks are rolling, you know exactly what Self is talking about. Just a few weeks ago, when Kansas hosted No.
5 UConn, the atmosphere was electric. The building hit its 15,300-fan capacity, and the energy was off the charts.
From the moment the Huskies stepped onto the court, it felt like something bigger than a regular-season game. That’s the kind of environment the NBA is looking to tap into.
So, could it happen?
On paper, it might seem like a stretch. The NBA Cup is still finding its footing, and the logistics of hosting a pro game in a college venue come with plenty of hurdles.
But then again, so did the NBA Cup itself. Just a decade ago, the idea of an in-season tournament cutting into the grind of an 82-game schedule felt implausible.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the numbers speak for themselves.
The 2025 NBA Cup Semifinals saw a staggering 126% increase in social media views year-over-year, with over 400 million views across platforms. The buzz is real, and the league is clearly doing something right. With momentum like that, the door is wide open for creative ideas-and historic college arenas are suddenly in the mix.
Allen Fieldhouse isn’t the only venue being tossed around. Rupp Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Breslin Center, and Hinkle Fieldhouse have all been mentioned as potential hosts. Each brings its own legacy and atmosphere, but Allen Fieldhouse-with its banners, its noise, and its basketball-obsessed fanbase-might be the crown jewel.
Of course, the NBA hasn’t made any official moves yet. For now, it’s all speculation.
But Self’s pitch is more than just hometown pride-it’s a legitimate case for why the NBA Cup could thrive in a place like Lawrence, Kansas. The Fieldhouse offers something that modern NBA arenas can’t always replicate: soul.
And in a tournament designed to shake up the rhythm of the regular season, that kind of authenticity could be exactly what the league is looking for.
In the meantime, Kansas keeps rolling. The Jayhawks are set to face Davidson on Monday night, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
CT. While Self’s NBA Cup dream simmers in the background, the focus remains on the court-for now.
But don’t be surprised if the next time the NBA Cup rolls around, the echoes of “Rock Chalk” are ringing out on one of basketball’s biggest stages.