It’s been nearly a decade since Ivica Zubac first stepped onto an NBA court in purple and gold, but his time with the Lakers still lingers in his memory - and not for the reasons you might expect.
Drafted 32nd overall in 2016, Zubac came in as a promising second-round big man with soft hands, good footwork, and a feel for the game that hinted at long-term potential. He flashed early - those around the Lakers will remember his touch around the rim and his ability to protect the paint.
But development in the NBA isn’t always a straight line, especially during a franchise’s transition years. And for Zubac, that road got bumpy in a hurry.
Recently appearing on the Xs & Os Chat podcast, Zubac opened up about his time in Los Angeles - and the confusion and inconsistency he experienced during the Lakers’ rebuilding phase under then-president Magic Johnson. One of the more surprising revelations? The lack of clear communication from the front office.
“Magic never called from his own number,” Zubac said. “Nobody had his phone number. It was always a hidden number, and Magic would be on the other end.”
That anecdote paints a picture of how disconnected things felt behind the scenes. Zubac recalled that after his exit interview, the team told him they were picking up his option. But just a week before the deadline, his agent got a call with a very different message: the Lakers weren’t bringing him back.
That kind of sudden shift in direction can rattle any young player - especially one trying to carve out a role in a crowded frontcourt. But it wasn’t just the roster moves or the minutes that left a mark. It was what could have been.
Zubac revealed that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - yes, that Kareem - had expressed interest in working with him directly. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer (at the time) saw something in the young center and wanted to help him develop, particularly by teaching him the legendary skyhook.
According to Zubac, Kareem even met with Magic Johnson about officially joining the Lakers’ staff in a mentorship role. But that opportunity never materialized.
“He told me he wanted to mentor me and work for the Lakers. He had a meeting with Magic… but he never got a job,” Zubac said.
Just imagine that - a young, developing 7-footer getting tutelage from one of the greatest big men the game has ever seen. Instead, that potential partnership fizzled before it could even begin. Zubac said he tried working the skyhook into his game briefly, but without Kareem’s hands-on guidance, the move never stuck.
Still, it wasn’t the trade to the Clippers that stung the most - it was the feeling of being left in the dark. Zubac shared that during the 2017 Summer League, the Lakers told him they expected him to win MVP. That’s a tall order for any player, but especially one sharing the court with a loaded roster that included Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Alex Caruso, and others.
Zubac played well, and the team won the Summer League title, but he wasn’t the focal point - and that’s where the disconnect came in. The expectations didn’t match the role.
And as the Lakers continued to bring in veteran bigs, Zubac’s minutes started to vanish. His development took a backseat, and eventually, the writing was on the wall.
Now with the Indiana Pacers, Zubac has carved out a steady role as a reliable interior presence. But looking back, his Lakers tenure feels like a missed opportunity - not just for him, but for the franchise.
The pieces were there: a promising young center, a Hall of Fame mentor ready to guide him, and a team in need of foundational building blocks. But the execution - or lack thereof - told a different story.
It’s a reminder that in the NBA, talent is only part of the equation. Communication, development, and timing matter just as much. And for Zubac, the early chapters of his career are a case study in how even the best intentions can get lost in translation.