Although Ivica Zubac has shown improvement either in his statistics or on-court skillset, or both, in every season he has played for the LA Clippers, the coaching staff has never had the All-Star expectation on him. They just hope that he continues to get better and remains the reliable center he is.
However, last season, Zubac went on a tear, especially at the end of the year, where he had every analyst, expert, and fan convinced that there are not five centers in the NBA better than him. This hype was carried on throughout the playoffs and all offseason, leading up to the Clippers’ media day.
Nonetheless, based on training camp and the first preseason game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions, head coach Tyronn Lue is treating him like a soon-to-be All-Star. This type of treatment is a first for the Croatian star, which could be the reason for a delay in his receiving the mid-season honor.
Tyronn Lue will expect more out of Ivica Zubac on day one of the regular season
The preseason opener revealed areas where the LA Clippers need improvement, but Ivica Zubac, alongside Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, and John Collins, was among the standout players despite limited playing time.
In fact, Zubac played 16 minutes and posted 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists, with just one missed shot. He did go one-for-four from the charity strike, but this is the least of Lue’s concerns.
Moreover, the coaching staff is looking for Zubac on the offensive side of the ball the same way the Houston Rockets look at Alperen Sengun, who was a first-time All-Star last season in the Western Conference. They use him in the post on every possession, and on fast breaks, he is instructed to run the floor with James Harden to catch an easy alley-oop or play clean-up in case of a missed lay-up.
Thus, Zubac may be able to handle the star treatment at the start of the year, maybe even producing better than he did to end last season, but the pressure could catch up to him around the new year, eventually causing a slump that Lue’s expertise could avoid.
The championship head coach should utilize Brook Lopez to divert some defensive attention away from Zubac. This will enable both centers to thrive, potentially securing a spot on the 2026 All-Star team for the 2025 All-Defensive big man.