Overview
- Luka Dončić said the Lakers’ neon-yellow NBA Cup floor was slippery and dangerous, noting he slipped multiple times despite requesting extra sweeping before tipoff.
- The Lakers said they will address the floor conditions ahead of Friday’s Cup game on the same court, and any decision to forgo the special floor would require league approval, per reporting.
- LeBron James told reporters he personally did not notice slipping, underscoring differing player experiences with the Cup surfaces.
- The Cup courts use brighter, heavily painted designs that differ from standard floors, and Lakers coach J.J. Redick said the team would look into possible condensation in a building shared with the NHL’s Kings.
- Concerns about Cup-court traction have persisted since 2023, when players including Jaylen Brown criticized the surfaces and the Mavericks abandoned a defective design.