Luka Dončić Warns Lakers’ Alternate Court Poses Serious Danger: Is NBA Safety at Risk?

There’s been quite a buzz swirling around the Los Angeles Lakers’ new NBA Cup alternate court, but not for reasons you might expect. Luka Dončić, the Lakers’ shining star, didn’t hesitate to call out the slick surface that caused him—and a bunch of other players—to slip during their recent 135-118 triumph over the Clippers. It’s not about the flashy bright yellow color or the shift from their regular court; it’s the dangerous slipperiness that’s got everyone concerned. Even before tip-off, Dončić raised red flags about the floor’s condition, yet the issue lingered throughout the game, leaving coach JJ Redick to blame condensation for the hazard. Despite all that, the Lakers powered through, with Luka dropping 43 points and securing an undefeated 3-0 NBA Cup record heading into the knockout round. With the next Cup matchup looming, the pressure is on to fix this slick scenario—because with MVP-level play from Dončić, LeBron back on the hardwood, and Austin Reaves breaking out, the Lakers cannot afford a stumble… literally! LEARN MORE

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić isn’t a fan of the team’s alternate NBA Cup court, and it has nothing to do with the way it looks. Following the Lakers’ 135-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, Dončić wasn’t a fan of the way the court played, calling it too slippery.

Dončić said he — and other players — slipped many times during the contest, calling the Lakers’ alternate court “dangerous,” per ESPN.

“It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous,” Lakers star Luka Dončić said after the game. “I slipped. I slipped a lot of times and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.”

The 26-year-old Dončić said he noticed the issue before the game and asked if a court assistant could examine the court one more time before the contest started. That didn’t solve the issue.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked about the court after the game. He said he believed the court did not dry well thanks to condensation. The Lakers share Crypto.com Arena with the Los Angeles Kings, who played a home game Monday. The ice rink was flipped to the Lakers’ NBA Cup court ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Despite the court’s surface, the Lakers managed to pull out the win. Dončić led the way for Los Angeles, dropping 43 points in the win. The victory improved the Lakers to 3-0 in the NBA Cup, clinching the team a spot in the knockout round.

In order to differentiate NBA Cup games from regular NBA games, teams have introduced alternate courts that are only used during NBA Cup games. NBA Cup courts are generally more colorful than the team’s usual court, with the Lakers’ version being a bright yellow.

While the color is different, the Lakers’ alternate court isn’t as drastic as ones used by the Detroit Pistons, who have a blue NBA Cup court, or the Atlanta Hawks, who feature a red alternate court.

The Lakers don’t have long to solve the issue. The team is set to play its next NBA Cup game Friday, when the Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks. The team is working to address the issue of the slippery court before that game, per ESPN.

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The Lakers should be highly incentivized to solve that problem. With Dončić playing at an MVP level, LeBron James finally back from injury and Austin Reaves in the midst of a breakout season, the Lakers are 13-4 to open the year and look like one of the true threats to win a championship.

Any significant injury could derail those chances. And while an injury can strike at any time, the Lakers probably don’t want their season to go up in flames because a star player rolled their ankle on the team’s alternate court.