Now that Major League Baseball has successfully pulled off a real-life Field of Dreams Game, it leaves us wondering what the ideal setting for the NBA version of a Field of Dreams Game would be. With so many historic basketball courts available for this across the country, it opens the door for plenty of new and exciting opportunities that the NBA should pursue.
Holding a midseason tournament or playing a few regular-season games at one of these iconic courts would, without question, be a big box-office showing. If the NBA wants to pull it off successfully, there are four spots the league absolutely must consider for their very own Field of Dreams Game.
4. Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Previously the site where the NBA held its first-ever outdoor game, Indian Wells Tennis Garden would definitely have a Field of Dreams vibe. Granted, last time this was done it was during the preseason and didn't gain a ton of traction, but now that the format would be different, revisiting the idea of hosting an NBA game here would have a much better result the second time around.
This would be a fun place for the league to host a Lakers-Clippers or a Suns-Warriors game sometime early or halfway point in the season. However, if they do decide to revisit holding a game here, it should definitely take place during the season when teams will be playing their stars for the majority of the time as opposed to a preseason game when fans are only given the chance to see the superstars play a very minimal amount of time.
Overall, this is an exciting idea that could gain a ton of traction and possibly increase NBA viewership even further, especially with the popularity of basketball increasing across the globe. Whether it be a midseason tournament or just a few regular-season games played on one of these courts, it would be well worth it and is definitely something that the league should look into further. Given how much the sport has blown up over the past few decades, this is an idea that could be another game-changer for the league.
3. Allen Fieldhouse
Currently the home to men's and women's basketball for the University of Kansas, Allen Fieldhouse is an iconic landmark that is highly regarded in the lore of college basketball. Given that Kansas doesn't currently have a professional basketball team, this would be a treat for die-hard Jayhawks fans to witness.
Just imagine the electricity of that arena with a March Madness feeling during a Bucks-Bulls matchup that would bring fans to their feet with the excitement of the NBA making its way to Lawrence, Kansas. With the college basketball craze that has been running wild through the University of Kansas for decades, holding an NBA matchup at this iconic stadium would be an absolute a spectacle not to be missed.
2. Rucker Park
A place that has always served as a spectacle to the sport, Rucker Park has been a stomping ground for many NBA superstars throughout the years such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday, among many others. Given how many streetball games are already played there on a regular basis, the excitement and intensity of a Nets-Knicks game would be a game to forever be remembered.
This would also elevate the already testy New York rivalry. With the wide array of superstars that would be playing in this exciting new rivalry, this would be a fun new spectacle for the NBA with the possibility of raising the popularity of the sport in the already basketball-crazed state of New York.
1. Venice Beach
Currently boasting one of the best outdoor courts in the country, the Venice Beach courts were popularized in the classic film White Men Can't Jump. Granted all the games played in that film were half court or two-on-two matchups, but it paved the way for this historic basketball court that is still a popular choice for pickup games today. Now imagine a full-court five-on-five NBA game being played there with the excitement of the Lakers-Clippers rivalry on full display for a full 48 minutes.
This would mark an iconic moment in NBA history and be a matchup for the ages, especially since it would be showcasing a plethora of future Hall of Famers putting on a show not to be missed. An NBA matchup played on this court would bring an exciting new element to the league and possibly increase the popularity of professional basketball in Southern California if that's even possible.
Follow Us
Subscribe