The NBA and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet to discuss modifications to the controversial court design at Rocket Arena after Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic narrowly avoided serious injury Wednesday night. Doncic is questionable for Friday’s game at the Washington Wizards with left ankle soreness.
“While improvements have been made to the arena floor over the years to address this issue, the NBA and the Cavaliers are revisiting the situation given the incident last night,” a league spokesperson said Thursday night.
Doncic fell off the side of Cleveland’s court, which sits approximately 10 inches above the rubber mat covering the hockey rink. The Cavaliers have the only elevated court in the NBA, with floor seats positioned on the rubber covering the ice, creating a dangerous gap.
The Lakers became at least the second visiting team to formally complain to the league. Miami filed a complaint in November 2023 after Dru Smith landed awkwardly in the same gap and sprained a ligament in his right knee, ending his season. No other known injuries have occurred due to the gap in 31 years at the arena.
The National Basketball Players Association raised concerns with the NBA after Smith’s injury and is in discussions again following the Doncic incident. Lakers coach JJ Redick called it a safety hazard Wednesday. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the same over two years ago.
“The basketball court layout and design at Rocket Arena is fully compliant with NBA rules and has been in place for [20-plus] years, with ongoing collaboration and regular evaluation between our organization, the league and independent flooring experts to support player safety and performance,” a Cavaliers spokesman said Thursday.
The playing surface is elevated from the rubber covering the hockey ice by a wooden structure. The floor seats, among the most expensive in the building, sit so far beneath the court that patrons can rest beverages on the rubber mats without concern.
Potential solutions include reducing the size of wood blocks supporting the court, adding small ramps to mitigate the drop, or widening the court to place floor seats on top of it.