Lakers News: Ivica Zubac ‘Working Like Crazy’ To Improve Since Summer League

Trevor Lane
2 Min Read


The Los Angeles Lakers found a diamond in the rough when they selected center Ivica Zubac with the 32nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but it didn’t look that way during this year’s Summer League.

Zubac struggled mightily with his lift, often getting his shot blocked and not dominating the game the way that he expected to.

In his rookie season, Zubac worked hard to eventually earn a spot in the starting lineup, though part of his promotion had to do with the Lakers desire to focus on their younger players once it was clear that they would not be in the playoff mix.

Most expected him to play very well in his second year at Summer League, but that didn’t happen, and Lakers Reporter Mike Trudell discussed that with him:

The Lakers have put a major emphasis on getting players in shape this year so that they can play the kind of high-level defense that will be expected of them. With that in mind, Zubac getting his body fat percentage down to six percent is excellent news. Since his lack of explosiveness was so evident in Summer League it’s also great to see that he feels like he has improved in those areas.

Despite his surprising struggles in Summer League, Zubac is still an immense talent that could have a very bright future for the Lakers. He has a soft touch around the basket and the ability to step out and knock down jumpers.

Last season he proved that he can be effective as a roll man after setting a big screen, and his wingspan allows him to protect the rim. Now the Lakers need him to put it all together, and if he can, the Lakers will have a quality big man to rely on.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com