Ivica Zubac spent eight seasons as the backbone of the Los Angeles Clippers’ frontcourt before being shipped to Indiana at the trade deadline. On Wednesday night, he was back at Intuit Dome, but this time on the other side. And the Clippers made sure he knew he hadn’t been forgotten.
A Homecoming Ivica Zubac Won’t Forget
Zubac didn’t suit up for the Pacers on Wednesday, still working his way back from a left ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined since Feb. 2. But his presence was felt throughout the building, regardless.
The Clippers decorated both his and Kobe Brown’s locker rooms with balloons, career highlight photos, memorabilia, and pictures. It was a full send-off for two players who gave the franchise years of genuine service. The organization also arranged for the two to meet the entire Clippers squad courtside ahead of tip-off, a gesture that spoke to the kind of culture Zubac helped build in Los Angeles.
And then, it was head coach Tyronn Lue, though, who put into words what many inside the organization were feeling. “He meant a lot. A good player that got better every year… from not playing in fourth quarters to finishing games… But more than all of that he was a great human being. He loved other guys’ success; he played every single night. We miss him,” Lue said.
That arc Lue described, from a raw big man who couldn’t close games to an All-Defensive Second Team center, is one of the more underappreciated development stories in recent NBA history.
Over eight seasons in Los Angeles, Zubac averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds on 62.7% shooting. The 2024-25 season was his finest, posting 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds while finishing sixth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Zubac’s Debut in Indiana Still on the Horizon
While the emotional return was complete, the basketball chapter is still being written. Zubac has yet to make his Pacers debut, and there is no firm timeline for his return.
However, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle offered an optimistic update ahead of the game. “Yeah, he’ll play this season. I don’t know when. He’s doing better, but he’s not there yet and we’re not going to send a guy out there to play who isn’t 100%,” Carlisle said.
The Pacers acquired Zubac specifically to anchor their frontcourt alongside Tyrese Haliburton, who is also working his way back. With Myles Turner having departed for Milwaukee in the offseason, Indiana saw Zubac as the reliable, proven center they needed to build around heading into next season. Once healthy, the Croatian big man is expected to step directly into the starting role.
