The Cavaliers and the NBA will talk about the Rocket Arena floor
It was very likely that the injury is from Luka Dončićeven the slight one suffered in Cleveland does not remain without consequences. Raised under the Rocket Arena was already a problem – in a much more serious way – with the injury to Drew Smith in November 2023. But as soon as the superstar is hit, the echo is no longer the same.
Selon AthleticThe NBA and the Cavs will therefore revisit this atypical, sometimes dangerous floor.
“While improvements have been made over the years to correct this issue, the NBA and the Cavaliers are reviewing the situation in light of Wednesday’s incident.”an NBA spokesperson confirms.
Cleveland isn’t the only franchise playing on a high floor, due to the presence of a hockey rink: Washington is also concerned. The difference is in the size of the gap.
The highest floor in the league
At the Rocket Arena, the place where Luka Dončić fell has a drop of about 25 centimeters. In Washington, on the other hand, the front-row spectators are at court level: the player will encounter the seats before he even reaches the sideline, and above all, the height to overcome is less than in Cleveland. The result: the specific risk associated with such a marked “march” seems much more limited in the capital.
In this context, reopening the case after two incidents in just over two years is primarily an attempt to prevent a third from happening.
“Rocket Arena’s floor layout and design is fully compliant with NBA rules and has been in place for over twenty years, through ongoing collaboration and regular evaluation between our franchise, the league and independent flooring experts to ensure player safety and performance.”said a spokesman for the Ohio franchise. “We are constantly evaluating all aspects of the venue to ensure the highest level of fan experience and maintain a safe environment for players, team members, artists and guests.”
2026-01-30 09:05:00
