Ivica Zubac made a splash in his debut for the Indiana Pacers this week, finally hitting the court after recovering from a left ankle injury. Having been acquired at the trade deadline, Zubac played 16 minutes against Phoenix and upped his time to 29 minutes against New York. Coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the importance of Zubac integrating with his new teammates as they gear up for next season.
Carlisle highlighted the need for synergy between Zubac and Andrew Nembhard, noting, “We need to find ways to make these games meaningful for the development of our team. It’s important that Andrew Nembhard and Zubac play together.
We’re looking to introduce things that take advantage of Zu’s strengths, the guys he’s playing with. Now it’s just a matter of more time together in games.”
Despite holding the league’s worst record, the Pacers have their eyes set on a return to title contention next season. With much of their NBA Finals roster intact and Zubac stepping into Myles Turner’s shoes, there’s optimism in Indiana. Zubac has been keenly observing the team’s playstyle and is confident he’ll mesh well.
“I feel like no matter who plays on this team, they play the same way,” Zubac shared. “They fit right in.
It’s always next man up. It felt the same.
It’s different guys, but the way they play, the way they move, the stuff they do, everyone on this team is really bought into the system. No matter who is out there, they’re gonna play super hard, they’re gonna move the ball, they’re gonna sacrifice themselves for the other guy.
It’s really fun.”
Zubac’s journey back to the court wasn’t without its challenges. In L.A., he was dealing with persistent ankle soreness, and it wasn’t until the trade to Indiana that he was encouraged to fully heal before returning. This change in approach allowed him to come back strong for the Pacers.
Meanwhile, backup point guard Quenton Jackson is sidelined with a calf strain, missing his second consecutive game. Coach Carlisle described it as a “mild strain,” but acknowledged the need for caution, as calf strains can be tricky.
The Pacers are navigating a spate of injuries, maintaining regular communication with the league office regarding player availability. The team was fined $100K last month for breaching the player participation policy, and Carlisle is keen to keep the league informed as they face a grueling schedule of five games in seven days. Conversations with the league have been ongoing since mid-January, ensuring transparency and compliance.