Ivica Zubac is dominating the paint

In his ninth NBA season, Ivica Zubac is having a career year with the LA Clippers. The seven-footer is averaging over 15 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He has steadily increased his point total in every season with the Clippers, and now, at 27 years old, it feels like peak-Zubac has finally arrived in Los Angeles.

The Lakers’ organization probably still regrets trading him to their Los Angeles rival seven seasons ago. The Lakers drafted the big man and moved on from him when he was only 21 years old in a trade for Mike Muscala.

The latter played a mere 265 minutes for the Purple and Gold, while Zubac has racked up 429 games played for the Clippers.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) has turned into a force in the middle this season. Zubac is averaging 15 points and 12.7 rebounds a game this season for the Clippers. Photo credit: Melinda Meijer/News4usonline

A big part of his game that has improved this season, aside from the obvious uptick in points and rebounds, is his ability to pass out of double teams and set up his teammates.

“Early on, when we used him to post up, teams would double team him, and we didn’t really handle it well,” said Ty Lue. “The last couple of weeks, he has done a really good job of taking care of the basketball, hitting open cutter, and being patient with the double teams.”

James Harden and Zubac have formed a special on-court relationship since Harden was traded to the team early last year. The guard-center duo warms up pregame together, and Harden can often be seen strategizing with Zubac on how he is going to get him touches in order to maximize his production.

“When you have guys like James (Harden), Norman (Powell), and Kawhi (Leonard), the attention they demand allows Zu to roam free around the basket. Teams are going to contest shots, and he is the recipient of getting drop-off passes for dunks and layups,” said Lue.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) engages in some physicality against the Brooklyn Nets during an NBA game played at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Photo credit: Melinda Meijer/News4usonline

Centers have always thrived when Harden is running the offense due to his ability to drive and set them up for easy buckets. Much of Zubac’s emergence this season can be credited to his growing chemistry with Harden.

Even though the prototypical center role has slowly diminished in the NBA, having one allows that player to impose their will on smaller teams, and that is exactly what Zubac is doing.

The fact that it is somewhat rare for a player of Zubac’s skill set to average over 30 minutes a night in the modern NBA makes his impact that much more valuable and would force a team to run a bigger lineup in a seven-game series.

Earlier in the week, Zubac came through with a 21-point, 20-rebound game against the Miami Heat. If he can produce anything close to that, come postseason time, opponents will have a problem on their hands.


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