Through a run that was extended for an unprecedented amount of time, Brook Lopez ran the league as the toughest interior defender in basketball, with a chest as solid as stone and brick. Defenders have never been able to run into him and score, as Lopez poses as a large figure in the paint that rarely breaks.
The New Jersey Nets drafted Lopez in 2008 from Stanford, and this lottery decision granted them a center who was with the franchise for nine seasons. While he was there, the top-notch rim protector swatted 972 attempts, ranking first in the Nets’ history.
Additionally, Lopez sits 20th all-time in block leaders at 2,060, showing that the throne had been his for a ridiculous amount of time, no matter how talented the league became with generational paint-defenders like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert.
However, LA Clippers’ star center, Ivica Zubac, dethroned Lopez from the top, as a dominant center that is impossible to score on. This title has little to do with Zubac’s blocks or advanced metrics, but rather is directly derived from the film study.
Draft expert, Sam Vecenie, praised the Clippers’ star on the latest episode of the ‘Game Theory Podcast.’
Sam Vecenie gave Ivica Zubac all the credit possible in his status as an elite, defensive-minded, interior big man
Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon published an episode of their show, ‘Game Theory Podcast’, where they analyzed the NBA’s best defenders and ranked the 25 best. Ivica Zubac was placed at the 19th spot on their list. The rationale behind Zubac’s ranking hovers around versatility, which makes sense, as his size at seven feet limits his movements from being as great as wing defenders like Dyson Daniels.
Moreover, Vecenie and Simon ensured to spill the facts on Zubac, and his ability to seriously defend and be a player who holds one of the lowest chances of being scored on, especially at the cup. This is due to his upper-body strength, a component also possessed by Brook Lopez.
Thus, ball handlers and wings looking to challenge Zubac must pivot their plans spontaneously to keep their dribble alive, in hopes of finding a better shot, or still attempt to navigate the long wingspan of LA’s star center.
Nonetheless, another masterpiece of a defensive season will inevitably be crafted by Zubac in 2025-26, and the Clippers as a whole will thrive, as Lopez is in the second string.