Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Ivica Zubac has built his reputation the old-fashioned way, anchoring the paint with strength, timing, and a willingness to do the demanding work that rarely grabs headlines. As a dependable interior presence, the Croatian center has become one of the NBA’s most consistent rebounders and rim protectors while steadily expanding his influence on both ends of the floor.

Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Ivica Zubac:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Ivica Zubac
  • Nationality: Croatian
  • Age: Born March 18, 1997
  • Hometown: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (grew up in Croatia)
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters)
  • Weight: 240 pounds (109 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 20 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #40
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Not applicable (played professionally in Croatia before the NBA)
  • College: Did not attend (played professionally in Croatia)
  • NBA Draft: 2016, Round 2, 32nd overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Los Angeles Lakers (2016–2019)
    2. Los Angeles Clippers (2019–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Children: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Two brothers (named Mario and Antonio Zubac)

Player Archetype / Play Style

Ivica Zubac’s player archetype is that of a traditional interior anchor center who relies on size, positioning, and efficiency rather than perimeter skill. Defensively, he fills the role of a drop-coverage rim protector and interior rebounder, focusing on contesting shots at the basket, maintaining verticality, and controlling the defensive glass to end possessions. Offensively, Zubac operates mainly as a screen-setting roll man who finishes efficiently around the rim, scores on put-backs, and provides a reliable interior target without needing touches designed for isolation or perimeter play. Physically, he stands around 7’0″ with a strong, broad frame, long reach, and solid lower-body strength that help him hold position in the paint and absorb contact. His overall play style centers on physical interior presence, disciplined positioning, and dependable finishing, making him a steady, low-mistake contributor who supports star teammates through screening, rebounding, and paint defense.

Scouting Report

Ivica Zubac has never been the kind of center who demands an offense revolve around him, but he’s exceptionally good at making life easier for the players who do. The first thing you notice is the quality of his screens. He doesn’t just create contact—he angles them to force defenders over the top, giving ball handlers an extra step before rolling hard enough to occupy the low man. That pressure opens passing lanes even on possessions where he never touches the ball. Around the rim he’s patient, keeping the ball high, finishing through bodies and using soft touch rather than rushing into blocked attempts. He’ll punish switches with deep post seals, yet he rarely drifts into isolations that stall an offense. Defensively, his value comes from discipline. He understands drop coverage, stays square long enough to discourage the drive without completely surrendering the pull-up, and contests vertically instead of chasing highlight blocks that leave the glass exposed. The trade-off is predictable: stretch bigs who can consistently pull him away from the paint or offenses that force repeated switches into open space can make him defend outside his comfort zone, where recovery speed becomes an issue. Even then, he generally avoids compounding mistakes because he trusts positioning over gambling. That’s why he fits best alongside perimeter defenders capable of navigating screens, allowing him to anchor the back line instead of constantly cleaning up broken possessions. To me, his game falls somewhere between Jonas Valančiūnas and Jakob Poeltl—he brings Valančiūnas’ interior strength and rebounding presence with a measure of Poeltl’s screen-setting craft and defensive restraint, thriving through consistency rather than spectacular moments.

Player Insights

Player Updates: Ivica Zubac delivered one of the most productive stretches of his career during the 2024–25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, benefiting from extended minutes alongside elite playmaker James Harden. Late in the regular season, Zubac publicly noted that playing with a passer of Harden’s caliber had long been a personal goal, and the on-court chemistry between the two became a defining feature of the Clippers’ offense. Throughout the season, Zubac’s effectiveness as a lob target and interior finisher gained increased recognition, with his efficiency around the rim and reliable screen-setting significantly boosting his overall impact. By the close of the 2024–25 NBA regular season, his consistent production and defensive presence placed him in discussions among the league’s more valuable starting centers. (4/27/2025)

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Ivica Zubac Stats
NBA.com — Ivica Zubac Bio
Los Angeles Clippers — Ivica Zubac Continues to Anchor Clippers Defense