Savannah McMillan-Christmas: NBA Should Consider Getting Rid of Courtside Seats

Is it time for the NBA to get rid of courtside seats? Is it time the league acknowledge the potential security risk inherent in having a clear path from the stands to the court?

I don't know. But I do think it is something David Stern should at least consider, especially after the Malice in the Palace or after 20-year-old Savannah McMillan-Christmas stumbled onto the court during Game 4 of the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

McMillan-Christmas is an alleged past stalker of Kenyon Martin when he was on the Nuggets and was heard asking for him as she was escorted off the court by security.

It never escalated beyond the bizarre, but my first thought was more ominous—what if her intentions had been more violent?

Then what?

She got pretty darn close to the players on the court, and she just stumbled out there. What if she had run on the court with other plans in mind?

I don't want to sound reactionary nor do I feel the NBA should simply alter a tradition it's long held out of fear over one incident. My feelings on this matter don't derive from McMillan-Christmas; I've long wondered if the NBA should do away with courtside seats.

And I'm not saying they definitely should, only that they should consider the idea.

We've seen incidents in baseball as well, fans jumping out of the first row to attack a player, coach or umpire on the field of play. Frankly, it's frightening.

Again, I don't want to be an alarmist, I don't want to alter traditions and I don't want to have so bleak an outlook on human nature that I believe we must look to the worst when making security decisions such as eliminating courtside seats.

That's not how I want to live, and that's not how I think the NBA should go about its business.

But I do think it should at least be talked about. Before any other considerations comes the safety of the players, the best seats in the house be damned.

It may not be time for a change, but this incident shouldn't simply be ignored either.

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