Cavaliers Raise Safety Concerns After Luka Doncic’s Leg Injury

CLEVELAND – Luka Doncic sustained a scare during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, when he appeared to injure his left leg after stepping off the edge of the Cavaliers’ raised court. The incident raised renewed concerns about player safety on the unique playing surface.

Doncic initially felt alarmed, recalling a similar incident involving Miami Heat guard Dru Smith, who suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 under comparable circumstances. After falling off the court’s 10-inch drop, Doncic was visibly in pain but managed to return later in the first quarter. He finished the game with 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds, although he noted he didn’t feel quite right.

“It is absolutely a safety hazard,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated following the game, emphasizing the need for changes to the court design. “I don’t know why it’s still like that. You can lodge formal complaints, but you often don’t see any change.”

The injury occurred as Doncic was attempting a fadeaway three-pointer with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter. After releasing the shot, he hopped off the platform while clutching his leg, before limping towards the locker room with minimal weight on his leg.

Reflecting on the incident, Doncic expressed relief that he avoided a major injury, saying, “I kind of got scared. It wasn’t a great feeling and looking back at the video I think I got a little bit lucky.”

This is not the first time the Cavaliers’ court has come under scrutiny. In 2023, Dru Smith sustained a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament sprain after slipping on the court’s edge while defending. The Heat formally addressed their concerns with the NBA at that time.

“It’s tough to see another player get hurt on this court, with the fall, with the drop-off,” Lakers guard Gabe Vincent remarked. “Hopefully something can get fixed with that, but we’re fortunate that [Doncic] is OK.”

Opened in 1994 and last renovated in 2019, Cleveland’s Rocket Arena also accommodates the Cleveland Monsters, an American Hockey League team, necessitating the raised basketball court. Other NBA arenas that share facilities with hockey teams do not feature similar drop-offs.

“It’s the only court like this so, I guess it’s my fault,” Doncic quipped, adding, “I [gotta] stop jumping like that.”

Earlier this season, Doncic had raised concerns about the Lakers’ custom NBA Cup court, labeling it slippery. The Lakers flagged the situation to the league, resulting in the court being deemed unsafe for subsequent games.

However, when pressed about escalating the latest issues, Doncic opted for reluctance. “I don’t know, don’t involve me in that,” he said. Redick echoed this sentiment, noting that any potential changes would be “way above my pay grade.”