The NBA’s decision to feature specially designed courts for the inaugural In-Season Tournament has faced criticism from players, with Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics joining the chorus of discontent after slipping during a game against the Raptors in Toronto.
Brown, who serves as a vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, expressed his concerns about the court’s safety in a postgame conference.
“I slipped. That’s it. I slipped. I think I might have strained my groin a little bit. We’ll see how it feels, but the court was just slippery all game,” he said, per Adam Himmelsbach of Boston Globe.
The league’s choice to paint the entire court in the home team’s colors, rather than using small painted areas, has not only raised aesthetic concerns but also poses a serious risk of player injuries due to increased slipperiness.
Brown emphasized the importance of ensuring player safety, saying, “We can’t put our players out here and risk their health. Tonight I thought the floor was unacceptable. I think guys were slipping all over the place, not just me.”
This issue isn’t isolated, as Mavericks’ Luka Doncic recently complained about the court quality in New Orleans, highlighting a growing problem that the league may need to address promptly.
