If All-NBA Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown‘s loud critique of the safety of the NBA’s new in-season tournament (IST) courts were not enough after the NBPA vice president slipped and hurt himself on one in Boston’s 108-105 win over the Toronto Raptors, Toronto big man Precious Achiuwa confirmed that the new IST courts were concerningly slippery for him as well.
“It was slippery,” said Achiuwa postgame via The Athletic’s Eric Koreen of the new, paint-covered courts that have been getting press more for their aesthetic shortcomings than safety issues, at least until Friday night. “I fell myself a few times.
“A couple of times I ended up on the floor,” added the Raptors center. “I slipped a few times.”
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“I’m extra cautious,” explained Achiuwa. “Ending up on the floor is kind of like, OK, I’m checking myself. I’m trying to make sure everything is intact.”
“At the end of the day, I just want to hoop,” he closed, reflecting Brown’s perspective in fewer — if equally important — words.
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