Ivica Zubac Bio
Ivica Zubac is a Croatian professional basketball player who currently plays center for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on 18 March 1997 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, he grew up in Čitluk, just east of the Croatian border, and identifies fully as Croatian. Selected 32nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft, Zubac has built a reputation as a steady rim protector, rebounder, and interior scorer. He also represents the Croatian national basketball team in international competition.
Early Life and Background
Ivica Zubac was born on 18 March 1997 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was raised in Čitluk, a small town located just east of the Croatian border, where he first developed his love for basketball. Although he holds dual citizenship, he has consistently identified himself as Croatian. His early years in Čitluk gave him a grounded upbringing, and the region’s strong basketball culture helped shape his interest in the sport.
Zubac developed his physical tools early, growing to a listed height of 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m) and a playing weight of around 240 pounds (109 kg). Those measurements would later translate into a strong presence in the paint. His family background also features a basketball connection: former NBA player Zoran Planinić, who was also born in Mostar, is his cousin.
Path to Basketball
Zubac came through the youth system of Cibona, one of Croatia’s most storied basketball clubs. He first gained senior experience with Zrinjevac in the second Croatian division during the 2013–14 season, a step that allowed him to test himself against older competition. The following year, he made the roster of Cibona’s men’s team, joining a promising group of prospects that included Nik Slavica and Ante Žižić after the departure of Dario Šarić.
During his time with Cibona, Zubac played in Croatia’s top-tier A-1 League and the ABA League in his first season, and also saw action in the FIBA Europe Cup the following year. In February 2016, he left Cibona amid the club’s financial difficulties and signed with Mega Leks of Serbia, a team known for developing young talent. His performances in Croatia and Serbia caught the attention of NBA scouts, paving the way for his professional career in the United States.
Ivica Zubac Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Zubac’s professional career began in 2013 with Zrinjevac in the Croatian second division. After one season there, he moved up to Cibona, where he played in the A-1 League and the ABA League. He also represented Croatia at multiple junior international events, including the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, and the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Greece. At the Under-19 tournament, he averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, earning All-World Championship Under-19 Second Team honors from eurobasket.com.
In February 2016, Zubac signed with Mega Leks of Serbia to continue his development. His strong play in Serbia’s top league solidified his status as a legitimate NBA prospect, and he declared for the 2016 NBA Draft. On 23 June 2016, he was selected with the 32nd overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers (2016–2019)
On 7 July 2016, Zubac signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League. He made his NBA debut on 2 November 2016, scoring six points as a fill-in starter for Timofey Mozgov in a 123–116 win over the Atlanta Hawks. After appearing in only 10 games in the first half of the season, Zubac posted a season-best performance on 17 January 2017 against the Denver Nuggets, recording his first double-double with 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
He followed that with a 10-point, six-rebound, four-block game against the Philadelphia 76ers on 12 March 2017, and then exploded for a career-best 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting to go with 11 rebounds against the Nuggets the next night. A high right ankle sprain ended his rookie season on 31 March 2017. During the 2017–18 season, Zubac had multiple assignments with the South Bay Lakers, the team’s G League affiliate, while continuing to develop his game at the NBA level.
Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2026)
On 7 February 2019, Zubac was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he quickly became a key member of the rotation. He reached the playoffs for the first time in his career that same season. After the season, he re-signed with the Clippers on a four-year, $28 million contract. He posted a season-high 15 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings on 22 February 2020, and on 6 August 2020, he became the first player in the shot clock era to record 20-plus points and 15-plus rebounds on 100% shooting in under 30 minutes of play, in a 126–111 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
During the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Zubac helped the Clippers reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, cementing his role as a vital piece of the team’s core. On 19 January 2022, he scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds in an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, and he started a career-high 76 games during the 2021–22 season, averaging 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds. On 28 June 2022, he signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension, and on 27 November of that year, he put up 31 points and a career-high 29 rebounds in a win over the Indiana Pacers.
On 30 August 2024, Zubac agreed to a three-year, $58.6 million contract extension with the Clippers. He started all 80 of his appearances during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging career highs of 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, and he recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 134–117 win over the Houston Rockets on 9 April 2025. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for 2025. In the 2025–26 season, he made 43 appearances (42 starts) for the Clippers, averaging 14.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists before being traded.
Indiana Pacers (2026–Present)
On 5 February 2026, Zubac was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick. Head coach Rick Carlisle noted that Zubac would have a delayed debut due to an ankle injury and a paternity leave. He started five games for Indiana, logging averages of 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, before being ruled out for the season on 26 March after suffering a fractured rib during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 7 feet 0 inches tall, Zubac plays a traditional center’s game built around positioning, rebounding, and rim protection. He is known for his efficient scoring around the basket, his ability to finish through contact, and his high shooting percentages from the field. His development as a passer has also been notable, highlighted by his first career triple-double in 2025. Defensively, his size, timing, and shot-blocking instincts earned him a place on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Zubac’s most defining moment came during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, when he helped the Los Angeles Clippers reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. He also made NBA history in August 2020, becoming the first player in the shot clock era to record 20-plus points and 15-plus rebounds on 100% shooting in under 30 minutes. His 2024–25 season, which included a first career triple-double and his first All-Defensive selection, marked his arrival as one of the league’s most reliable two-way centers.
Ivica Zubac Career Wins
Ivica Zubac’s career has been defined less by championship titles and more by steady development, individual milestones, and postseason achievements. While specific cumulative win totals across series are not fully verified, his selection to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2025 and his role in leading the Clippers to the 2021 Western Conference Finals stand as the most significant accomplishments of his career to date.
NBA Highlights
Zubac’s NBA journey began with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him 32nd overall in 2016, before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2019. His first major postseason run came in 2021, when he helped the Clippers reach their first-ever Western Conference Finals. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2025, the same season in which he posted a career-best 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game and recorded his first career triple-double.
Other Wins & Performances
Zubac has also enjoyed success at the international level with Croatia’s junior national teams. He earned All-World Championship Under-19 Second Team honors at the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Greece and was named to the all-tournament second team at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. In club play, he contributed to Cibona’s campaigns in both the Croatian A-1 League and the ABA League, and he spent time with Mega Leks in Serbia before entering the NBA.
Ivica Zubac Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ivica Zubac was born and raised in a family with strong ties to basketball. His cousin, Zoran Planinić, is a former NBA player who was also born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, giving the family a notable basketball lineage. Growing up in Čitluk, Zubac was surrounded by a strong regional basketball culture that helped foster his early interest in the sport.
Personal Life
Zubac is married to Kristina Prišč. On 5 February 2026, the same day he was traded to the Indiana Pacers, the couple welcomed their daughter, Sienna Leina Zubac. He holds dual citizenship but identifies fully as Croatian and has represented Croatia at multiple levels of international competition.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NBA season, Ivica Zubac delivered the most complete campaign of his career. He started all 80 of his appearances for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging career highs of 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. His presence in the paint anchored the Clippers’ defense and helped establish him as one of the most reliable two-way centers in the league.
On 9 April 2025, Zubac recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 134–117 win over the Houston Rockets, a milestone that highlighted his growing playmaking ability. His strong all-around play was recognized when he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for 2025. Even opposing stars took notice, with LeBron James publicly expressing regret at having let Zubac get away from the Lakers.
Coming off his 2025 All-Defensive selection and career-best statistical season, Zubac entered 2025 as a foundational piece of the Clippers’ rotation. His combination of size, rebounding, interior scoring, and emerging passing skills positioned him as a central figure in the team’s long-term plans, before his eventual February 2026 trade to the Indiana Pacers.
