Los Angeles Lakers star and former Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James expressed concerns about the Cavaliers’ court design.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is calling on the NBA to address court safety issues at Rockets Mortgage Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami Heat guard Drew Smith suffered a season-ending injury against the Cavaliers.
Attention is focused on the court’s unique design, with a significant drop of about 10 inches from the basketball court to the thin sheet of rubber that covers the hockey ice beneath it. While this design has been used in more than 1,200 regular-season games, including countless playoff games under LeBron James, the potential dangers weren’t exposed until Smith was injured.
LeBron James and others take note of Cavaliers arena issues
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the court “dangerous” and expressed doubt that anything would change on the court. The Heat have officially contacted the NBA league office to express their concerns. Spoelstra and others around the NBA claim that no other court in the league has seen such a significant decline.
According to The Athletic’s Joe Walden, “When asked if he agreed with Spoelstra and the Heat on addressing court safety concerns, he (answered) … ‘Yes, the league should Think about it. They should address this.”
The Lakers, the first team to play in Cleveland since Smith’s injury, discussed court safety during a morning walkthrough. Lakers head coach Davin Hamm echoed LeBron James’ sentiments, emphasizing the need to examine and improve the situation to prevent future injuries. Austin Reeves said it was “kind of scary.”
Cleveland’s unique court design, with its elevated surface, has been a fixture for the Cavaliers for the past 30 years. While teams are happy with the conditions, recent events have sparked wider discussions about whether modifications need to be made to ensure player safety. As the league grapples with the issues, focus turns to potential remedies, with suggestions being made to replace the thick blocks of wood between the court and the ice.
As the NBA community awaits further developments, the league is focused on addressing safety concerns and implementing necessary changes to prevent future injuries in Cleveland.