LA Lakers change “dangerous” court after player complaints

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly decided to change back to their usual court design following player complaints about the alternative NBA Cup surface.

Teams are allowed to switch to other, bolder court designs for games played in the in-season NBA Cup. The Lakers’ bright yellow alternate court was used for the group stage game against the Los Angeles Clippers last month but it was not popular with players.

Players from both teams complained that the surface used in the Lakers’ 135-118 win over the Clippers was not safe for play. Lakers star Luka Doncic was among the most vocal critics of the eye-catching court.

“It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous,” Doncic told reporters. “I slipped. I slipped a lot of times, and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.”

The courts are provided by the league as part of an effort to build interest in the NBA Cup, a new tournament designed to add intrigue to the early parts of the regular season. ESPN reports that the Lakers have returned the court to the producer and will switch back to the usual court for Wednesday’s game.

Despite his concerns about the playing surface, Doncic has been a strong supporter of the NBA Cup. Having played for Real Madrid before moving to the NBA, he is well-acquainted with the cup competition format more commonly found in European sports leagues.

“I like it a lot,” Doncic replied, when asked about the introduction of the NBA Cup. “Back in Spain, I used to play in the Copa del Rey. It was in February, but it was the same concept. So I welcome that, and I like the Cup a lot.”

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