Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

'Safety hazard': Lakers' JJ Redick revisits concern about Cavaliers court after Luka Doncic injury scare

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 12:18 AM ET

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick thinks the Cleveland Cavaliers' court is just a tad too high.

Lakers guard Luka Doncic appeared to suffer a left leg injury in the first quarter of a game in Cleveland on Wednesday night when his foot fell between a gap in the home court and the bench. He returned to the game, finishing with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field and logging six assists and five rebounds. Following the 129-99 Lakers loss, Redick ripped Rocket Arena's floor.

"It is absolutely a safety hazard," Redick said, per The Athletic's Dan Woike. "And I don't know why it's still like that. I don't. You know, you can lodge formal complaints. A lot of times, you don't see any change when you lodge a formal complaint."

Why some would agree with JJ Redick

It's not the first time the court at Rocket Arena has been called an issue. The floor is raised roughly 10 inches off the ground to enhance the fan experience and to accommodate an ice rink below. The venue is also home to the Cleveland Monsters, an AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Per Cleveland Magazine's Julia Lombardo, a plastic subfloor separates the rink and court.

Luka had to go back to the locker room after an apparent leg injury at the edge of the court. pic.twitter.com/QxPvkiE5p0
— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2026

Many NBA teams share their arenas with hockey teams (e.g., the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks), but their courts aren't elevated. So, whenever a squad travels to Cleveland, it must be especially attuned to the drop-off. Those who forget about it are more likely to fall and suffer a serious injury.

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffered a Grade 3 ACL sprain at Rocket Arana in 2023 when he contested a three-point shot and landed awkwardly. The Heat subsequently contacted the NBA, but it appears no significant changes were made.

"I kind of got scared," Doncic said, via Woike. "It wasn't a great feeling, and looking back at the video, I think I got a little bit lucky."

The league may do more to address these concerns after Doncic — who's leading the NBA in scoring (33.8) — almost suffered a serious injury.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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