Thriving as a center for most NBA teams is a challenge nonetheless, but if the work ethic and skill set are present, time then becomes the last ingredient in earning a ticket to a hard-fought future in the NBA. Hence, countless teams have found valuable, prosperous seven-footers once the evaluation of fit is completed.
On the contrary, for the LA Clippers, being labeled as the franchise center is an improbable obstacle. Fans have now fallen in love with Ivica Zubac, as he holds the longest tenure in the red, white, and blue. However, the front office went through trial and error with veterans like Marcin Gortat and Montrezl Harrell.
Harrell had the more successful run, winning a Sixth Man of the Year trophy, but defensively, he was unplayable. The front office required more size and rim protection, leading to his end in LA the same season his name was announced as the best second-string player in the league.
Before Harrell, there was DeAndre Jordan, who does not need an introduction. He concluded his tenure as an icon, having produced elite numbers in each season as one of the top centers in basketball. Rebounding, screening, and rim protection were where he thrived, and that is why he was successful.
Well, Zubac has also become a franchise great, and it is no surprise, as he shares numerous similarities with Jordan, who laid the groundwork for the Clippers’ long-term future.
Ivica Zubac’s playstyle fits like a glove into the precise skillset the LA Clippers require
Ivica Zubac does not usually draw comparisons to LA Clippers icon DeAndre Jordan, but they both stuck to the fundamentals of what a center is supposed to do, explaining why they are the last two legitimate big men the front office felt no desire to trade early on.
Furthermore, Zubac is less athletic and has not made aggressive dunking a part of his regular scoring routine. Conversely, the Croatian Star led the NBA in total rebounds last season and cracked the All-Defensive teams, two accomplishments that Jordan also notched.
It is clear Zubac was one of the rare seven-footers to find the cheat code into meeting the Clippers’ blueprint to success. Yet, he could become the greatest center in franchise history, like Jordan, if he can repeat what he did in 2024-25 in the following years and turn the repetition into progression, leading to accomplishments such as an All-Star and All-NBA selection.