LOS ANGELES — After another dominant performance, Luka Dončić had more on his mind than his near triple-double. The Lakers superstar blasted the NBA Cup’s special hardwood court, calling it “slippery” and “dangerous” following Los Angeles’ 135–118 win over the Clippers on Tuesday night.
Dončić poured in 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds, barely missing what would've been his 10th career 40-point triple-double — all while slipping multiple times on the Lakers’ bright yellow Cup floor.
⚠️ Dončić: “Adjust the courts, please.”
The NBA introduced custom court designs for Cup games to distinguish the tournament, but complaints have been frequent across the league. Dončić joined that chorus loudly.
“It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous… I slipped a lot of times. You could see a lot of players slipped.”
Dončić said he couldn’t recall if the courts in New Orleans or Memphis — where L.A. played its first two Cup games — were similarly slick, but he believes the new surfaces simply need more gameplay to break in.
The criticism isn’t new. In 2023, Jaylen Brown blamed a groin injury on the Cup court in Toronto. Even LeBron James acknowledged seeing players slide on Tuesday, though he personally didn’t find it hazardous.
🔥 Late-Game Skirmish Rekindles Dončić–Dunn Rivalry
The Lakers’ fifth straight victory got chippy late in the fourth when Kris Dunn knocked Dončić to the floor from behind. As Dončić stood to confront him, Dunn shoved the ball into his chest.
That’s when Jaxson Hayes stepped in — hard — shoving Dunn with both hands. Dunn swung at Hayes’ head before teammates and officials intervened. Hayes was given a technical foul, while Dunn received two and was ejected.
Dončić wasted no time publicly thanking Hayes — and even pledged to cover his fine.
“I got him. Thanks for having my back. That’s what I love about this team — everybody has each other’s back.”
This wasn’t the first time Dončić and Dunn have tangled. Their history includes technicals, ejections, and a controversial trip last season in a Lakers–Clippers meeting.
🏆 Cup Quarterfinals Clinched — and a Bonus Earned
The win secured the Lakers the top spot in their group and a berth in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Dončić, who grew up familiar with European-style tournament play, said the format feels natural to him.
“I think I never got past the group stage, so it’s something new. I played it in Spain, something like this, so I like it.”
When informed he pocketed at least $53,000 for the group-stage win, the superstar with a $165 million contract broke into a grin.
“Obviously, I’ll accept money,” he joked.
💛 A Perfect Snapshot of Lakers Identity
Between Dončić’s MVP-level play, the team’s fiery chemistry, and Hayes standing up for his star, the Lakers showed exactly why they’ve emerged as a top contender this season.
On a slippery court or not — this group is sticking together.
Join the Discussion
0 Comment(s)
Login to join the discussion: