Ivica Zubac has not spent much time in Indiana, but he already sees something he likes.
The Pacers center, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline last season, said the team’s biggest strength is the way its players are connected. Speaking during Media Day, Zubac praised the roster’s closeness and said this group has shown him the most camaraderie he has seen in his 10 years in the NBA.
He even drew a comparison to the Croatian National Team, saying the Pacers have that same tight-knit feel. For Zubac, that has made an early impression in his first months with the franchise.
Indiana got only five games out of Zubac after the trade, but the numbers hinted at what he can bring with a bigger role. In those games, he averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.
Now he heads into his first full season with a much clearer runway. Zubac will have every chance to expand those numbers while helping Indiana push back toward the postseason.
The Pacers have made a point of building around chemistry, and Zubac’s comments fit right into that identity. Indiana was a close group during its run to the NBA Finals during the 2025-26 season, and that has not changed even with Tyrese Haliburton out last year.
With Haliburton back, the Pacers’ offense should look far more dangerous. And with Zubac now in place at center, Indiana finally has a more defined answer in the middle after not having a strong plan there last season.
That setup should put Zubac in position for plenty of easy looks alongside Haliburton. If he delivers, Indiana could have one more key piece in place as it tries to get back into title contention.
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That approach also suggests Indiana will be cautious at first, with Haliburtons minutes potentially limited early as the team manages his health and reintegration. For a Pacers group coming off a rough season, the return of its point guard matters a lot, but Carlisles stance hints the organization is thinking bigger than one comeback and more about building something sustainable around him. [Read more 🡒]
Ivica Zubac Just Put A New Pacers Question In Focus
Ivica Zubac is already getting a feel for what life looks like in Indiana, and the adjustment starts with pace. The veteran big man talked about fitting into the Pacers' up-tempo approach and what it means to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton, whose quick-trigger style can turn a possession around before defenses are fully set.
Haliburton's return from injury adds another layer to the season's early rhythm, because Indiana is trying to rebuild chemistry while keeping its title expectations intact. Zubac's comments point to a familiar Pacers question: how quickly can the group sync up when the offense is built around a guard who pushes tempo and starts things earlier than most big men are used to? [Read more 🡒]
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Getting there required some commitment. Zubac arrived at the 2024-25 trade deadline in a move that cost Indiana a protected first-round pick, and the deal sent that selection to the Clippers after the protections were no longer in play. Haliburton is already locked in on a five-year extension signed in 2023, Siakam remains a four-time All-Star expected to anchor the core, and the message from the Pacers is unmistakable: they are paying for a lineup they believe can deliver, and they want the results to match. [Read more 🡒]