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The NBA sensation shared serious apprehensions regarding the distinctive NBA Cup court at the Lakers' downtown arena, calling it “slippery” and “hazardous”.

Dončić was far more pleased, on the other hand, with his squad's unity and resilience after Jaxson Hayes backed him during a tense skirmish with Dunn – and Dončić has promised to cover the penalty Hayes incurred for the subsequent technical foul.

Notable Performance

Dončić delivered an remarkable showing with 43 points, 13 assists dished, and nine rebounds during the decisive victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, just barely falling short of his 10th career 40-point triple-double.

The Lakers' fifth consecutive win became tense toward the end when Kris Dunn shoved Dončić to the court with a hit to the back. Dončić stood and faced him, who shoved the ball into his chest. Hayes reacted with a strong thrust of the opponent, who made an effort to strike back with a swat at his head while officials and teammates separated the altercation.

“It’s on me,” Luka remarked. “Right away, I expressed my gratitude for his support. It’s moments like these that make me value this group. Each player stands up for their teammates.”

Previous Clashes

Dončić and Dunn have previously been involved in multiple in-game confrontations.

• The duo received T’s for a heated run-in when Dallas met Dunn’s Utah Jazz in December 2023.
• Dončić looked him out of the game when Dunn was ejected from a Mavericks-Clippers game in 2024.
• Dunn seemed to harm the star with a low blow from behind when the LA Lakers played the Clippers last March.

Tuesday’s confrontation concluded with the opponent’s removal for a pair of technicals.

“As I positioned for a board, someone hit me in the back,” Dončić explained. “I won’t just take that. Fear isn’t in my vocabulary. I won’t stand by and allow it. ... That’s part of basketball. Sometimes it’s going to get physical. Verbal sparring is common. I thrive on that, and I enjoy it.”

Playing Surface Issues

This matchup was held on the Lakers' bright version of the special courts deployed across the NBA for In-Season Tournament games – but the player felt unsafe.

“Please fix the courts,” the star said after commending the setup of the event, now in its third edition. “The surface is slick. It’s hazardous... I lost my footing repeatedly. You could see a lot of players slipped. That’s unsafe, honestly.”

The game was the Lakers' opening Cup game at home this season after commencing group play with a pair of away matches. Luka mentioned he was unsure whether the courts in New Orleans and Memphis’ venue were slicker than standard.

“Being new courts, they’re quite challenging,” Dončić observed. “They require ... more gameplay.”

Competitor Opinions

Criticisms about the special courts are nothing new. Celtics’ Jaylen Brown said he injured his lower body while playing on the Raptors’ NBA Cup court in the previous season, and other players have weighed in on the risks of playing on fresh hardwood.

LeBron James remarked he observed “a couple of guys” slipping on the court that night, but didn’t feel it was unsafe himself.

Cup Advancement

The team clinched their bracket and obtained a berth in the tournament’s next round with their success. It’s an exciting development for Dončić, who is familiar with the concept of tournament play in a way his American colleagues often do not.

“This is new territory for me, as I’ve always exited early,” he explained. “I participated in similar events in Spain, so I enjoy it.”

After hearing he had earned at least a significant sum with the team’s group win, Dončić, who has $198m in professional salary, smiled.

“Obviously, I’ll accept money,” he quipped.