The Los Angeles Lakers are on a strong run in the 2025–26 NBA season, currently holding a 17–6 record in the league. They’ve also looked sharp in the NBA Cup. The dominant 135–118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 25 helped them get into the quarterfinals.
Now, as they get ready to host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, fans are excited. But at the same time, they are also curious. It is because something unusual is happening. The Lakers are making a surprising change, and it has nothing to do with lineups or strategy.
What Is the Change That the Lakers Are Bringing on Wednesday Night?
The Lakers were supposed to use the bright, bold yellow NBA Cup court, which was the same one designed for all teams to use during the tournament.
These special courts have been one of the most significant visual features of the NBA’s new in-season event. But on Wednesday night, instead of the flashy Cup design, the Lakers will take the floor on their regular hardwood. That decision isn’t random at all.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the NBA has instructed the Lakers to return to their standard court due to safety concerns associated with the Cup floors. Players around the league felt that the specialized courts used during the group stage were more slippery than usual, which increased the risk of injuries.
The issue became impossible to ignore after the Lakers’ win over the Clippers, when Luka Dončić spoke openly about how slick the court felt.
Behind the scenes, the NBA acted quickly. The Cup courts were sent back to the manufacturer for repairs and adjustments. The league wanted the surfaces fixed and entirely safe before any more games were played on them. However, those repairs weren’t finished in time for Wednesday’s Lakers–Spurs matchup. This meant that the standard court became the safer and only reliable option.
Dončić, who has been one of the leading voices about player safety this season, was relieved with the decision.
“I really appreciate the Lakers and the league. They did us a favor. I was talking about it, so I really appreciate both of them, just changing the court and giving us [a chance to] stay healthy,” said Dončić regarding the change as per ESPN.”
This isn’t the first time the NBA has made such a move. Fans might remember one thing. It was during last season’s NBA Finals that the usual trophy logo and Finals script were missing from center court. Many viewers were confused, and some were disappointed.
But that, too, was a safety call.
In 2014, the NBA discontinued using center-court decals because they tended to become slippery during games. The Finals branding had been placed directly on the hardwood, and players often complained about the slickness. It was especially when the floor got sweaty. So Dončić’s concerns aren’t new. Historical evidence suggests that specialized court designs have led to problems in the past.
“One of the reasons we moved away from the logos on the courts is — whether it was perception or reality — there was a sense that maybe the logos added some slipperiness to the court,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during a press conference.
Now, coming to the Lakers. They are heading into Wednesday’s game with a significant advantage as they have the support of Dončić, who is currently averaging 35.0 points per game this season. On the other hand, the Spurs are without their rising star Victor Wembanyama, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since Nov. 14.
Whether the court change affects anything on the floor is something fans will find out soon. However, one thing is clear: safety comes first.
