During their superstar era, ignited by Kawhi Leonard in 2019, most of the centers employed by the LA Clippers have a traditional playstyle. This means pure interior dominance and glass cleaning abilities.
Ivica Zubac is the most prominent example, as he survived all of the changes in the frontcourt through hard work and an unguardable hook shot. Now, he is arguably the most dominant center in the league with this type of playstyle, with guys like Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns focused more on playmaking and three-point shooting.
However, for a short stint, Clippers fans got to see how a three-point shooting center would do in their system with Serge Ibaka. Fans loved him before he even arrived, as Ibaka helped Leonard win his second ring with the Toronto Raptors through their infamous 2019 showcase.
Thus, Tyronn Lue should use Brook Lopez in the same way Ibaka was used for the former All-Star to succeed in his first season with the Clippers.
Serge Ibaka is the perfect blueprint for Tyronn Lue to follow when scheming for Brook Lopez
Although Serge Ibaka did not even make it to 82 games over a season and a half with the LA Clippers, he was excellent in 2020-21. He averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, shooting 51.0% from the field and 33.9% from beyond the arc.
This was Tyronn Lue's first season taking over Doc Rivers' old role as head coach, demonstrating that he was a first-hand witness to the production Ibaka was providing as a brief starter in Los Angeles.
Moreover, Brook Lopez is the Clippers' 2025-26 version of Ibaka. They play so similarly that for the veteran big man to prosper, Lue should go back in his notes and re-analyze what made Ibaka successful in LA for the sole purpose of using Lopez the same way.
Conversely, Lopez could take on Ibaka's former tasks and do greater things with it. This is because of Zubac's notable development and how Lue could pair the former teammates together rather than one at a time.
That said, the Clippers do not need to look at teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers to learn how to use Lopez correctly. It would help, of course, as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have won awards and notched All-Star honors, but studying how Ibaka was maximized is where the solution sits for Lue and his staff next season.