Zubac’s first appearance with the Pacers delayed until ankle recovers, according to Carlisle.
MILWAUKEE — Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle indicated that the debut of new center Ivica Zubac with the team might be postponed due to his current paternity leave and an ankle injury that Carlisle mentioned Zubac has been managing since December.
“It’s fluctuated a bit,” Carlisle stated prior to Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. “From my discussions with him, it seems there is still an issue that isn’t completely resolved. We won’t have him play until he is fully prepared.”
Indiana acquired Zubac and Kobe Brown from the LA Clippers on Thursday in exchange for guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, two first-round draft selections, and a second-round pick.
Zubac missed his last game with the Clippers while attending the birth of his first child, but he had participated in nine consecutive games prior and has played in 43 games this season.
“He’s a player who has participated in 94 or 95% of his games throughout his career, and I assume that’s because he is always eager to push through challenges,” Carlisle remarked. “That won’t be a possibility here.”
As of Friday, Indiana held the third-worst record in the NBA at 13-38, and the team is not motivated to accumulate wins for the remainder of the season.
The Pacers traded a 2026 first-round pick to the Clippers as part of the deal for Zubac, but the selection is protected in the top 1-4 of the draft or 10-30. Having one of the three worst records in the league grants the Pacers a 14% chance at securing the No.1 overall pick. If the pick does not transfer in ’26, it will convert into an unprotected first-round selection in 2031.
The Pacers made the acquisition of Zubac to address a long-term need at center following the departure of Myles Turner in free agency this summer. Zubac remains under contract through the 2027-28 season and will serve as a new pick-and-roll partner when Tyrese Haliburton returns next season from a torn Achilles.
Zubac is averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds on 61% shooting this season, but his style of play will differ from Turner, who is a stretch big capable of extending defenses beyond the three-point line. Zubac, on the other hand, has not taken a three-point shot this season.
“The two players are distinct,” Carlisle said when comparing Zubac to Turner. “We’ll analyze it and determine how everything fits together. It will appear somewhat different than when Myles was on the court.”
“I believe both players are top-10 centers in the NBA. Therefore, we are fortunate to have completed the trade.”
