The Indiana Pacers’ rebuild took center stage at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, but not entirely for on-court reasons. As New York hosted Indiana amid contrasting seasons, the absence of the Pacers’ most recent blockbuster acquisition became a talking point — an opinion that drew an eyebrow-raising reaction from the Knicks’ broadcast booth.
Ivica Zubac’s Pacers Debut Delayed Yet Again As Walt Frazier Calls Out Indiana
During Indiana’s win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, longtime Knicks analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier did not mince words while discussing Ivica Zubac’s continued absence.
“It’s called tanking, folks,” Frazier said on the broadcast, drawing a reaction from play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and quickly igniting conversation online.
The Pacers entered the game riding a four-game losing streak and holding a 13–40 record, the second-worst in the NBA. With Indiana already struggling, Zubac sitting out yet another contest, particularly against a playoff contender, only amplified speculation that the franchise may be prioritizing draft position over immediate results.
Indiana acquired Zubac and Kobe Brown from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and three future draft picks. He was under a three-year, $58,650,480 contract with the Clippers, fully guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $19,550,160. Now with the Pacers, Zubac remains under contract through the 2027–28 season.
But this move, which was apparently a long-term investment, is fueling criticisms. The franchise doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get him on the floor, especially when the Pacers are sliding further down the standings.
Injuries, Draft Incentives, and Zubac’s Long-Term Value
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has maintained that Zubac’s absence is precautionary. The veteran center has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue since December and also recently took paternity leave.
“There’s still something there that’s not quite right,” Carlisle said. “We’re not going to put him out there until he’s really ready.”
Indiana has been battered by injuries throughout the season. Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin remain sidelined, while several rotation players, including Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and Aaron Nesmith, have missed time. Johnny Furphy was also ruled out for the season earlier this week with a torn ACL.
Still, Indiana’s draft situation complicates the narrative. The Pacers owe a protected 2026 first-round pick to the Clippers that only conveys if it lands between picks five and nine. Finishing with one of the league’s three worst records would significantly improve Indiana’s lottery odds and protect that asset.
Whether Indiana is exercising patience or quietly embracing a lottery-driven strategy, Frazier’s blunt assessment has placed the Pacers under a spotlight. And it’s one that won’t fade until Zubac finally makes his debut.
Lazy take. If Frazier actually bothered to watch some pacers games he would see they are definitely not tanking they are just not as good losing 2 starters and then another 7-8 players from injury the whole season. See how the Knick do without Brunson and Kat for the season and then losing 7 other key players. Give me a break. Oh and the Pacers won. Yeah tanking. There’s a reason Siakam is an Allstar. He plays hard every game to win. It’s hard to win in the NBA w/ D leaguers. We had Mac McClung for a week too, remember that?