The skillset and IQ of Ivica Zubac are perfectly curated to match the traits of the LA Clippers’ All-NBA point guard, James Harden. He plays relatively similar to Clint Capela, where Harden fully broke out as a superstar, but his offense is far more polished.
Zubac does not fear the expansion of his game, as he was once someone who would occasionally finish on his own in the paint with his best highlights coming from alley-oops and easy tip-ins. The big man appears to have fully developed, given that Clipper Nation sees his hook shot as a freebie.
These improvements made a career year inevitable for Zubac, who played 80 games and averaged 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds, shooting 62.8% from the field.
The postseason made Zubac look more like the top-five center he is, as he recorded 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds with a field goal percentage of 65.9. The sample size of seven is small compared to other elite centers like Nikola Jokic, but the Croatian star proved himself nevertheless.
Despite the clear breakout in his career, the NBA did not have Zubac as an all-star. His points and rebounds could increase next season, keeping him in the debate; yet, for him to become a clear-cut pick, an element that most top-tier centers possess must be added to his game.
Ivica Zubac needs a mid-range game to win the first all-star nomination of his career with ease next season
An attempt from outside the paint is rare from Ivica Zubac, as he tends to toss in an easy floater if the defender on his hip is committed to his post-game or turnaround hook shot. This strategy was effective and consistent, especially after the All-Star break.
Conversely, Zubac has demonstrated an efficient jump shot in the past. This is usually a last-second 'something is better than nothing' type of attempt, with the shot clock winding down, but it has gone in several times.
With Brook Lopez, an exceptional jump-shooting big man, Zubac can rewind time to his days as a Los Angeles Laker and learn the proper techniques, particularly accuracy and timing, from the veteran addition. This is another reason why Lopez will be of supreme value on the second unit.
This minor tweak will inevitably add points to his seasonal averages, and even if his field goal percentage declines slightly, Zubac will produce an all-star campaign next season that no executive can overlook when the voting is due.