How good is Ivica Zubac?

Gordon · Post #1 » by **Gordon** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:40 pm

His plus-minus numbers are elite, he is one of the best rim protectors and rebounders in the league, and only Jokic has been featured more as a post up threat this season.

Many reckon that his resurgence is the product of Harden playmaking, but it looks like he is in much better shape compared with previous seasons, with less body fat and more lean muscle. How good is Zubac now, is he firmly in 2nd tier of centers?. Is he one of the cornerstones of Clippers rebuild, or should they trade him while his value is high?

EmpireFalls · Post #2 » by **EmpireFalls** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:42 pm

Yeah, James Harden might be the best PnR ball handler ever.

MoreyWins · Post #3 » by **MoreyWins** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:52 pm

He plays his role extremely well, but he's still a role player. The other guys on the list are either the focal point of their own offense or have had DPOY level impact on their team.

hauntedcomputer · Post #4 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 5:14 pm

One of the best contracts in the league. Great guy to have both in real life and in fantasy. When his price goes up to $20 million it's more of a debate but he should be solid through his prime and beyond.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #5 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:41 pm

MoreyWins wrote:He plays his role extremely well, but he's still a role player. The other guys on the list are either the focal point of their own offense or have had DPOY level impact on their team.

Literally not one of those players is a more impactful defender than Zubac outside of Gobert, nice try though. And the 3-4 prior years only Bam and Gobert were ever better defenders in this list.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #6 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:43 pm

Gordon wrote:His plus-minus numbers are elite, he is one of the best rim protectors and rebounders in the league, and only Jokic has been featured more as a post up threat this season.

Many reckon that his resurgence is the product of Harden playmaking, but it looks like he is in much better shape compared with previous seasons, with less body fat and more lean muscle. How good is Zubac now, is he firmly in 2nd tier of centers?. Is he one of the cornerstones of Clippers rebuild, or should they trade him while his value is high?

People that don’t watch the Clippers in recent years see it as a huge leap, but look at his per minute/per possession. He’s been capable of this for 4 years. Yes, he’s worked on his post touch I’m sure… but it’s almost entirely more minutes+touches that create this “leap”.

Defensively he’s been a top 5 paint defender for like 5 seasons in a row.

Clemenza · Post #7 » by **Clemenza** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:45 pm

Top 10 center

Post #8 » by **og15** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:50 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:Yeah, James Harden might be the best PnR ball handler ever.

There's that Steve Nash guy lol (and others in competition of course), but Harden is definitely one of the best, though I wouldn't make that the best claim.

That said, Zubac has been great in a lot of areas. He gets posted up, which are skills he's always had, but he hasn't had the minutes to utilize it as much. He's decent at passing out and not getting into trouble and will find guys once in a while.

It was suggested he had some stamina issues in the past, so if anything has been worked on, it's that.

Very nice roll man, both finishing strong and has a little floater.

Defensively though he's been huge, and of course he could always rebound. He's better at switching against perimeter guys than many would think, maybe partly because of some of Luka's highlights against him too, and really anchors that side.

70sFan · Post #9 » by **70sFan** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:53 pm

MoreyWins wrote:He plays his role extremely well, but he's still a role player. The other guys on the list are either the focal point of their own offense or have had DPOY level impact on their team.

Zubac plays at all-star level throughout the season and he's better defender than all of them except Gobert, whose he's better offensively than.

70sFan · Post #10 » by **70sFan** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:53 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:Yeah, James Harden might be the best PnR ball handler ever.

Don't see how that makes Zubac one of the best post up bigs in the league.

Post #11 » by **niQ** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 8:21 pm

Clemenza wrote:Top 10 center

My fantasy team agrees.

xb3at band1tx · Post #12 » by **xb3at band1tx** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 8:52 pm

Easily a top 10 center for sure. At his price? legit one of the best contracts in the league.

I'd hesitate if he was given the max though, I think I'd feel more comfortable with Bam at that price point.

GQ Hot Dog · Post #13 » by **GQ Hot Dog** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 11:25 pm

Zu is the second best center in basketball although I could see others taking Bam because of his defensive versatility.

Sengun and Sabonis are nice offensive players, but centers that don't defend don't scare anyone. They'll never beat the best teams in a 7-game series.

As for Gobert, he doesn't belong on the list.

ejftw · Post #14 » by **ejftw** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:59 pm

Of those four, only Rudy and Bam I'd take over Zu. Domas, id consider. The other, would rather bring back Chris Kaman as character is a vital trait I'd look for

MoreyWins · Post #15 » by **MoreyWins** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:00 pm

GQ Hot Dog wrote:Zu is the second best center in basketball although I could see others taking Bam because of his defensive versatility.

Sengun and Sabonis are nice offensive players, but centers that don't defend don't scare anyone. They'll never beat the best teams in a 7-game series.

As for Gobert, he doesn't belong on the list.

Zubac isn't beating any playoff team on his own lmao. He's not Wilt or Dwight. His DFG% has a 1.2% difference than Sengun on the same amount of shot attempts. He's not some generational defender compared to the rest of the field. I can think of a few centers in the league who'd make the Clippers better if they replaced Zubac. Right now they're at a 45 win pace with Zubac as their third best player. That's cool and all, but a few centers could help add wins to that total.

CodeBreaker · Post #16 » by **CodeBreaker** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:08 pm

He's like top 3 imo

Johnny Bball · Post #17 » by **Johnny Bball** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:11 pm

I would take all of them and more over Zubac.

facothomas22 · Post #18 » by **facothomas22** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:12 pm

I think he's a above average starter at this point. Is he really that much worse than Rudy Gobert at this point? Sure a worse Rim protector, but he's a better rebounder, a better player on offense, he's younger and on a much cheaper contract. Far as the other Centers on this poll, I easily take Bam Adebayo and Sabonis over Zubic. Sungun has more potential, but right now you talk me into thinking Zubic is the better player.

UcanUwill · Post #19 » by **UcanUwill** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:16 pm

GQ Hot Dog wrote:Zu is the second best center in basketball although I could see others taking Bam because of his defensive versatility.

Sengun and Sabonis are nice offensive players, but centers that don't defend don't scare anyone. They'll never beat the best teams in a 7-game series.

As for Gobert, he doesn't belong on the list.

Sengun improved his defense quite a bit, he is far from non defender like Sabonis.

Also, Zu is second best center in basketball? What, or do you mean from that list? I would still take Sengun and Bam, but I think hes better than Gobert and Sabonis.

Post #20 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Mar 18, 2025 2:23 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:Yeah, James Harden might be the best PnR ball handler ever.

Fun fact, but Zubac's PER36 numbers are fairly similar, and he's been shooting this well since 2020, which predates Harden's arrival by about half a decade.

In his first 4 full seasons with the Clippers, Zubac averaged 14.7 ppg on 63.4% 2FG. The main change, at least statistically, is his shooting volume, which is up a little now.

Who is most valuable these among centers