In the middle of many controversies and debates regarding players’ safety and the organizations’ methods to protect them, on Wednesday night JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers witnessed another moment that raised multiple concerns from fans.
In the initial minutes of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, tumbled off the edge of the Cavaliers’ unique playing surface, in another situation that could have been prevented. While Doncic could return and finish the game, the incident left Redick visibly frustrated about an arena feature he believes should have been fixed years ago.
Redick blames the state of the floor
Unlike every other court in the NBA, Cleveland’s hardwood sits approximately 10 inches above the surrounding concrete floor. Doncic, while attempting a signature fadeaway three-pointer from the left wing, felt how his left foot slip off the ledge, causing his ankle to roll as he fell awkwardly into the bench area.
Redick, visibly upset after the game, recalled to the media that there have been many injuries over the years because of the floor:
“I haven’t watched the play yet, so I know that he rolled his ankle falling off the floor. There’s been a number of injuries over the years in this building because of the floor
Despite the slip, Doncic remained on the ground and finished the night with 29 points, six assists, and five boards, but he could not prevent his team from losing and the Lakers fell defeated with a 129-99 result.
Does the Cavalier’s floor represent a safety hazard?
This characteristic elevation of the court is not a strategic choice by the Cavaliers, but a necessity for the multi-purpose role of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Apart from being the home of the Cavaliers, it also is for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, meaning an ice platform sits permanently beneath the hardwood.
In order to keep the ice protected and a level playing surface, a thick separation layer was installed, resulting in a significant drop-off at the court’s edge. Other NBA teams share arenas with hockey franchises, like the Nuggets and Knicks, but Cleveland is the only one that utilizes this design.
If it represents a safety hazard, Redick has it clear:
“It is way above my pay grade. It is absolutely a safety hazard. I don’t know why it’s still like that. I don’t. You can lodge for more complaints. A lot of times you don’t see any change when you lodge a formal complaint
The frustration is well-founded, as in 2023, Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffered a season-ending ACL sprain after slipping off the same ledge. The NBA has not said anything regarding the incident yet.
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