The Los Angeles Clippers are one win away from sealing a spot in the top-six of the Western Conference, granting them automatic qualification into the NBA Playoffs. The emergence of stars like Ivica Zubac has greatly helped them stay competitive. Zubac is having the best season of his career and recently put up 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Houston Rockets.
This was the first triple-double of his career and one he desperately wanted to get, as he promised teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic that he’d never have to pay for dinner again if he hit the shot to notchy him his 10th assist.
”I wanted it. I told Bogie I‘ll give him the ball, and he has to shoot it no matter what… Told him he never has to pay for a dinner again. “
Zubac will be glad his Balkan teammate delivered what was required but might be fretting the cost he’s going to incur. After all, the offseason isn’t far away, and Zubac might just wind up paying for the fanciest seafood dinner in a city like Dubrovnik.
This is just another performance in what’s turned out to be a phenomenal season for Ivica Zubac. He’s emerged as one of the top centers in the NBA, averaging 16.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks this season. Most people didn’t expect the Clippers to be as competitive as they’ve been, as they lost Paul George for nothing in the offseason.
However, stars like Zubac and Norman Powell taking up the space George left behind instead of bringing another star from outside has made the team more competitive. James Harden has been orchestrating the team as its point guard, and they’ve survived injuries and other troubles all season to be at their best at the right time of the season.
James Harden Openly Declared Ivica Zubac As Better Than A Specific Former Teammate
Ivica Zubac’s success this season is directly linked to the influence James Harden has had on the team’s offense. Harden clearly loves sharing the floor with Zubac, openly saying he’s a better player than another former beloved teammate, Clint Capela.
“Yeah. It’s only been almost two years. What I did with Clint, it was 5-6 years. And Zu is way more skilled offensively than Clint. The understanding of knowing what to do, each possession, whether it’s a switch or it’s a pick-and-roll.”
“On one play I remember, I came off the pick-and-roll, I snaked it. I don’t know, AD ended up on me. He (Zubac) had a small on him. He was ducking there for two seconds, and then I looked at him, and he cleared the paint and ducked right back in. I threw him the ball, and he got an and-one. That’s chemistry.”
“Next year is gonna be even better. I’m just happy knowing the work he’s put in and the understanding we have with each other. He caught a lob today, but that’s not even like — I’m getting to the rim, and it’s not even a lob. If he was able to jump even a little bit higher, he’d have 10 more points.”
Zubac doesn’t have the same athletic ability that Capela had in his prime. He can’t jump out of the gym, but he’s a far more complete defensive player with softer skills on offense. He’s a smoother finisher on layups and can’t be taken out of a game just by restricting access to the rim. He’s a deft passer and arguably a more skilled technical rebounder.
