Ivica Zubac to make his Pacers debut against Suns on Thursday

Ivica Zubac will make his debut for the Indiana Pacers against the Phoenix Suns, the crew introduced on Thursday. Zubac, 28, was initially listed as questionable for Thursday’s recreation; Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle informed reporters on Tuesday that Zubac was shut to getting back from aleft ankle sprain suffered in December.

Zubac was traded to the Pacers together with Kobe Brown in a deal that sends Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and one second-round decide to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier than this yr’s commerce deadline.

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Zubac had develop into a dependable position participant over the previous few seasons for the Clippers. His inventory rose additional after a breakthrough season final yr, when he was named to the second-team NBA All-Defensive crew for the primary time. Zubac additionally averaged a career-high 16.8 factors and 12.6 rebounds final season and completed sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

While Zubac’s numbers have decreased this season, he nonetheless posted a double-double common with 14.4 factors and 11 rebounds per recreation in 43 video games. Zubac spent his total profession in LA, and was a second-round draft decide for the Lakers in 2016 earlier than being traded to the Clippers in 2019.

Zubac now seems set to be the Pacers’ middle of the long run after the crew misplaced Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free company this offseason. He can even crew up with Pacers level guard Tyrese Haliburton and ahead Pascal Siakam. Siakam was an All-Star this season, whereas Haliburton has been out thus far this season after struggling a turn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

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The Pacers are at the moment 15-50 and sit final within the Eastern Conference. Using Zubac late within the season, regardless of their report, may assist stop the Pacers from dealing with additional punishment after they had been fined, together with the Utah Jazz, for violating the league’s participant participation coverage.