Lakers' NBA Cup Court Deemed Unplayable Amid Safety Concerns

The Los Angeles Lakers' neon yellow court, designed for the NBA Cup, has been declared unplayable due to safety concerns raised by superstar Luka Doncic. According to Fox News, the determination came after Doncic described the court as 'dangerous,' citing its slippery surface following the Lakers' 135-118 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic, who scored 43 points in that game, expressed his concerns, stating, 'It's just slippery. It's dangerous. I slipped a lot of times, and you could see a lot of players slipped. That's dangerous, man.'

NBC Los Angeles reports that the Lakers will now host the Dallas Mavericks on their regular home court at Crypto.com Arena instead of the neon yellow NBA Cup court, which will be sent back to its vendor for repairs. Technicians from the league's court vendor assessed the surface and deemed it unsuitable for play due to safety issues. The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussions about player safety and court conditions within the league.

This is not the first time Doncic has raised concerns about the NBA Cup courts. During the inaugural tournament in 2023, while still a member of the Mavericks, he criticized the New Orleans Pelicans' court for being unstable, highlighting the potential hazards posed by the altered playing surfaces. CBS Sports notes that the NBA Cup courts differ from standard courts in that they feature full-court designs with decorative decals, which can sometimes lead to traction issues. Doncic, noting the slippery quality of the court during pregame warmups, had previously requested the court be swept again, although that did not resolve the problem.

The Lakers, currently undefeated in their NBA Cup games with a record of 3-0, secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament. With the game against the Mavericks set to be played on their standard court, the Lakers aim to maintain their momentum in the tournament, which leads to a championship game in Las Vegas. The anticipated repairs to the neon yellow court are expected to take about two weeks, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura echoed Doncic's sentiments, describing the court's conditions as 'weird' and 'oily,' affirming that many players struggled with the surface during their initial game on it. This situation raises questions about the league's approach to player safety and the ongoing viability of using specially designed courts for events like the NBA Cup. As the Lakers prepare for their matchup against the Mavericks, all eyes will be on how the league addresses these safety concerns moving forward.