After Luka Dončić’s Criticism, Lakers to Use Traditional Court vs. Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers will close out their NBA Cup group stage this Friday (28) against the Dallas Mavericks — but with a major change that has nothing to do with lineups or strategy.

For the first time in this year’s tournament, the Lakers will NOT use the special NBA Cup court at Crypto.com Arena. Instead, they’ll return to their traditional hardwood, ending a week-long wave of criticism surrounding the Cup-specific design.

⚠️ Court Controversy Reaches a Breaking Point

The shift comes after the NBA Cup court — already the subject of heated online debates — was deemed “unfit for play” in a technical evaluation, according to Bleacher Report. The floor has now been sent back to the manufacturer for repairs.

This decision follows strong complaints from players, including one of the most prominent voices on the roster: Luka Dončić.

🗣️ Luka Dončić: “It’s slippery. It’s dangerous.”

After the Lakers’ win over the Clippers earlier this week, Dončić was blunt about the court conditions.

“It’s just slippery, it’s dangerous. I slipped a number of times and you could see a lot of players slip too. That’s dangerous. NBA, fix this!”

Video clips quickly went viral, showing players losing their footing throughout the night — adding fuel to the ongoing backlash.

Head coach JJ Redick also chimed in, suggesting the quick turnaround from a Los Angeles Kings hockey game the night before may have left moisture under the floor, reducing grip and creating unsafe conditions.

🟣 Lakers to Host Another NBA Cup Game at Home

Despite the logistical hiccup, the Lakers remain fully focused on the competition.

Already qualified for the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the team will host its next elimination game on December 9 or 10, again at Crypto.com Arena — presumably on the standard court to avoid further controversy.

If the Lakers win, they’ll advance to Las Vegas for the semifinals, where the remainder of the tournament will take place.

LA has a strong Cup history: in 2023, LeBron James led the squad to wins over the Suns, Pelicans, and Pacers to secure the inaugural championship.

Whether the court change will impact Friday’s matchup remains to be seen. But one thing is clear:

After Dončić’s criticism and a safety review, the Lakers are done risking injuries — at least when it comes to the floor beneath their feet.