PIRAEUS (Greece) - "Going back-to-back 29 and 25 in FIBA competition... It's tough to do. He's killing it. I know he's gonna bring it [in the Final], we're all gonna be ready, but he's definitely gonna take it to another level."
That's how Jaleen Smith described Ivica Zubac's performances in Greece throughout this week. Croatia's towering center is playing probably the best basketball of his life and averaging 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block per game, adding up to an average efficiency rating of 36.3.
Need more? We got more. The 27-year-old center has made 30 of his 36 attempts from the field, and 12 of his 13 shots from the free-throw line. In other words, he's turned into a scary Zu-blocka monster.
"I'm here to help, whatever the team needs me to do," Zubac said after his 25-point, 9-rebound game against the Dominican Republic in the Semi-Finals.
"I feel like we have an advantage down there when I'm playing, when Dario is playing, when Hezi (Mario Hezonja) is playing. We're a tall team, and we're strong in those positions, not a lot of teams are stronger than us there. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it," he added with a smile.
"I've been guarding him my whole career in the NBA, it's always me when we're playing the Bucks."
The Croats obviously work in eight-year cycles. They advanced from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens in 2008, they won the OQT in Turin, Italy in 2016, and now they are within a single game of winning another boarding pass to the Olympics.
The Final opponent is as tough as they get. Greece, with 12,000 fans by their side in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, and a man called Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I've been guarding him my whole career in the NBA, it's always me when we're playing the Bucks," Zubac recalled his experiences with the LA Clippers across the pond.
"You need to be prepared for the contact. He loves initiating contact, he's the one coming to you. The key is to take the best possible shots and not to turn the ball over to prevent their running style, but if it happens, you need to form a wall. You need to block his view to potential holes where he could pass through, and try to make it a five-on-five battle," he explained.
Zubac also tried guarding Antetokounmpo in Europe. Back at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, Greece defeated Croatia in the group stage in Italy, with Giannis scoring 27 points.
When you're an athlete, you always remember the last matchup with somebody. The taste of a win remains, or the taste of a defeat burns you on the inside. Which probably explains why Zubac is eager to get back on the court and take on Greece once more.
"We're gonna have to take some risks. But Giannis is playing physically aggressive basketball, I'm playing physically aggressive basketball, so... can't wait!"
This will be the 28th duel between the two European powerhouses, warm-up and official games included. Greece won 14 of their previous encounters, while Croatia are just a win behind.
Is this the perfect chance for Zubac and Co. to silence the crowd on the road and tie the all-time score?
FIBA