"There is an element of danger to most pro sports, including NBA basketball.

It's not NFL football or NHL hockey, where violent crashes are part of the game.

It's not baseball, where an errant pitch can come straight at a batter's head at 100 miles per hour.

It's not boxing or mixed martial arts, where the goal is to inflict damage.

But basketball at its highest level often is played in the air, and landings can be awkward and frightening.

T.J. Ford, recently signed to play point guard for the Spurs, knows the fear of flying more than most."