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The NBA sensation shared significant concerns concerning the special NBA Cup playing surface at the Los Angeles Lakers' downtown venue, calling it “unsafe” and “hazardous”.

The Slovenian superstar was delighted, though, with his squad's togetherness and resilience after teammate Jaxson Hayes backed him during a tense confrontation with Dunn – and Dončić has promised to cover the fine his teammate incurred for the subsequent technical foul.

Key Moments

Dončić turned in an outstanding game with 43 points, 13 assists dished, and nine rebounds grabbed during the decisive victory over the opposing team on Tuesday night, nearly falling short of his tenth career triple-double with 40+ points.

The Lakers' fifth straight victory became tense in the final period when Kris Dunn shoved the star to the floor with a hit to the back. Dončić got up and confronted him, who thrust the ball into his torso. Jaxson Hayes reacted with a forceful push of Kris Dunn, who made an effort to retaliate with a hit at his head while referees and colleagues separated the fracas.

“It’s on me,” Dončić stated. “Right away, I expressed my gratitude for his support. This is what I love about this team. Everybody has got each other’s back.”

Past Confrontations

Dončić and Dunn have previously engaged in multiple on-court confrontations.

• The duo earned technical fouls for a vocal argument when the Mavericks faced Dunn’s Utah Jazz in December 2023.
• Dončić looked him out of the game when he was removed from a Mavericks-Clippers game in last December.
• Dunn seemed to harm the star with a low blow from the rear when the Lakers met the Clippers last March.

This most recent confrontation resulted in Dunn’s ejection for two technical fouls.

“I was waiting for a rebound, and I got a shot in my back,” he explained. “I’m not going to just stand it. Fear isn’t in my vocabulary. I’m not going to just stand there and let it go. ... That’s the nature of the sport. There will be physical moments. Plenty of trash talk occurs. I live for that, so I love it.”

Playing Surface Issues

The game was played on the Lakers' bright version of the unique courts deployed across the association for tournament games – but the player did not feel safe.

“Please fix the courts,” Dončić urged after commending the format of the event, now in its third year. “They’re too slippery. It’s hazardous... There were multiple slips. You could see a lot of players slipped. That’s dangerous, man.”

The fixture was the Lakers' opening Cup game at Staples Center this campaign after starting group play with two away matches. He mentioned he was unsure whether the courts in NOLA and Memphis were less grippy than standard.

“Being new courts, they’re quite challenging,” Luka noted. “A few games ... should help break them in.”

Athlete Feedback

Complaints about the tournament courts are not new. Celtics’ Jaylen Brown said he strained his hip while playing on the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Cup court in 2023, and other players have weighed in on the dangers of playing on new hardwood.

LeBron James remarked he noticed “a couple of guys” slipping on the court Tuesday, but wasn’t concerned about his own safety.

Tournament Progress

The team locked up their bracket and earned a place in the NBA Cup quarter-finals with their win. That’s exciting for Luka, who is familiar with the concept of Cup competitions in a way his North American teammates may not.

“Having never advanced past the group stage, this is a fresh experience,” he explained. “I participated in similar events in Spain, so I enjoy it.”

Upon learning he had garnered at least fifty-three thousand dollars with the team’s group win, Dončić, who has $198 million in career earnings, smiled.

“Obviously, I’ll accept money,” Luka laughed.