Given how successful the LA Clippers have been defensively this season, they deserve to have several players in the mix for NBA All-Defense honors. Their premiere superstar, Kawhi Leonard, will not be eligible due to requirements, but specialists such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Ivica Zubac must be considered.
Furthermore, every statistic, advanced metric, and defensive measure suggests Zubac should be selected as the big man for one of the NBA’s all-defensive teams. He blocks shots from players of all sizes, guards the perimeter at an above-average rate, and has been praised from the league’s best.
If Zubac were removed from the Clippers’ lineup, head coach Tyronn Lue would likely have one of the weakest defenses in the NBA, especially around the rim. LA would allow more points in the paint, and they would be without someone who can effectively cover talents like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid.
Clipper Nation could argue that Zubac is the team’s most valuable player because he is dominant at the cup. No other center can do what he does when factoring in how much energy the Croatian star utilizes on offense.
These are all major reasons why Zubac should have an edge over other candidates looking to crack the list.
There should be no reason why Zubac is not selected on the NBA’s All-Defensive Teams
As Ivica Zubac has risen through the ranks as one of the best lockdown centers in the NBA this season, league executives should reward his dominance with honors on the all-defensive teams. Given where the Clippers are and where they should be, this is only right.
Overall, the seven-foot beast is averaging 15.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on an impressive 61.8 field goal percentage. However, in favor of the defensive standpoint, advanced metrics present the outstanding job Zubac has done for Tyronn Lue, Jeff Van Gundy, and the rest of his squad.
In 58 games, Zubac has a defensive rating of 107.5, with a 42.8 block percentage and a 42.0 rebound percentage.
To comprehend the greatness behind his performances, Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, has recorded a defensive rating of 108.2, a block percentage of 43.4, and a rebound percentage of 33.9 this season.
That said, Zubac’s numbers have resulted in a winning record for the Clippers, adding to why the bare minimum he should receive is a selection to the all-defensive teams.