Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić has voiced serious concerns about the safety of the NBA Cup court following the Los Angeles Lakers' fiery 135-118 victory over city rivals the Clippers on Tuesday night.
Heated Confrontation Sparks Team Solidarity
The game's intensity boiled over during the fourth quarter when Clippers' Kris Dunn knocked Dončić to the floor with a check to the back. Dončić immediately confronted Dunn, who responded by shoving the ball into the Slovenian's chest.
Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes swiftly intervened with a two-handed shove on Dunn, leading to a heated exchange that required officials and players to separate the athletes. Hayes received a technical foul for his involvement, but Dončić has pledged to cover any resulting fine.
"I got him," Dončić confirmed. "I told him right away, thanks for having my back. This is what I love about this team. Everybody has got each other's back."
Dončić's Stellar Performance Amid Safety Concerns
Despite his concerns about the playing surface, Dončić delivered an outstanding individual performance, recording 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds - narrowly missing his tenth career 40-point triple-double.
The Mavericks star didn't hold back in his criticism of the special yellow NBA Cup court, describing it as "slippery" and "dangerous."
"Adjust the courts, please," Dončić urged after praising the tournament format. "It's just slippery. It's dangerous... I slipped a lot of times. You could see a lot of players slipped. That's dangerous, man."
Longstanding Rivalry and Tournament Progress
This incident marks the latest chapter in Dončić's ongoing rivalry with Dunn. The pair previously received technical fouls during a Mavericks-Jazz game in December 2023, and Dunn was ejected from a Clippers-Mavericks encounter in December 2024.
The victory secured the Lakers' place in the NBA Cup quarter-finals, a achievement that particularly excites Dončić due to his familiarity with cup competitions from his time playing in Spain.
"I think I never got past the group stage, so it's something new for me," Dončić said. When informed the team's success earned him at least $53,000, the star, who has accumulated $198m in career earnings, laughed: "Obviously, I'll accept money."
Complaints about the special NBA Cup courts aren't new - Boston's Jaylen Brown blamed Toronto's court for a groin injury in 2023, though Lakers teammate LeBron James said he didn't personally find Tuesday's surface dangerous.
