Video: Ivica Zubac Hits Sky Hook In Lakers’ Practice

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read


The Los Angeles Lakers took a risk when they selected Ivica Zubac with the 32nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He was considered something of an unknown, and it was rumored that his refusal to become a “draft and stash” prospect in Europe led to his draft stock falling. The Lakers, however, saw his skill and decided to take a chance on the young Croatian.

Zubac quickly became a fan favorite with his stellar play during the Las Vegas Summer League, and his stock only rose further when he revealed that he is working on reviving the sky hook, a shot that just may be the most unstoppable in NBA history. The Los Angeles Lakers Twitter account was kind enough to post a video of Zubac hitting the shot in practice today, and it’s a thing of beauty:

The sky hook was originally made famous by Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who stopped by practice yesterday to talk to the team and give Zubac a few pointers on the shot that he made famous.

Just weeks ago, Zubac told Lakers Nation the story behind his attempts to bring the sky hook back, and it appears that he has made excellent progress since then. If Zubac can effectively integrate the sky hook into his game it could become a major weapon.

Of course, hitting a sky hook in practice is one thing, but hitting it in a game situation is another. After the Lakers loss to the Denver Nuggets last night, coach Luke Walton mentioned that he plans to give Zubac more minutes in their next outing, which will take place Sunday night, once again against the Nuggets.

Should he hit one in a game it’s going to be a very welcome sight for Lakers fans, who haven’t seen a proper sky hook since Abdul-Jabbar graced the court at the Great Western Forum.

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