2โ€“7 Jul
    2024

    Zubac: "Playing with Croatia helped me a lot to prepare for the season"

    5 min to read
    Short Read
    Zubac dominated at the OQT in Piraeus

    The giant center was unstoppable in Piraeus this summer. Does this suggests his performances in the NBA with the Clippers are about to hit a different level?

    LOS ANGELES (USA) - Croatia star Ivica Zubac had a very good summer by most measuring sticks.

    He proved, or reconfirmed, at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus that he's one of the best centers in the world, finishing with the tournament's highest efficiency of 33.0 EFFPG, a stat made all the more impressive considering his rating was higher than Giannis Antetokounmpo's 23.0 for Greece.

    You may also want to read this:

    Zu-masterpiece in Greece: Zubac sets new OQT efficiency record

    The 2.16m (7ft 1in) Zubac was the OQT's fourth leading scorer at 22.8 points-per-game and the leading rebounder at 11.3 rebounds. He had two double-doubles in four games.

    If you want to see the content, you need to accept Targeting Cookies

    The only downside to the summer?

    "Didn't make the Olympics, unfortunately," he said at the Los Angeles Clippers media day.

    Even so, Zubac, after leading Croatia through last year's Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, got them to within one win of the 12-team Olympics in France. Croatia fell 80-69 to Greece in the OQT Final, though Zubac could hardly have played any better with 19 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes.

    Zubac poured in 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against Greece

    His stock rose at the OQT. His performances certainly did not hurt him in the eyes of the Clippers, who gave him a lucrative three-year contract extension after the tournament.

    The OQT was an opportunity for Zubac to show he can be a force on offense.

    Now with Russell Westbrook and Paul George having left for the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, he's expected to get a lot more touches in the paint with the Clippers.

    "I feel like I've been preparing for it my whole life," he said. And a summer with Croatia certainly prepared him in the best way possible to assume a larger role on offense.

    โ€œ

    That's how I played with my national team. I get more touches, play a lot in the post, a lot of stuff goes through me so that helped me a lot to prepare for the season and I'll be ready.

    "Past years, there were not a lot of chances. We had a lot of guys that were a priority on offense, I just had to play my role. This year will be bigger on offense."

    How playing FIBA basketball helps NBA superstars:

    Jokic sees Serbian National Team experience as NBA advantage

    Giannis: ''A lot of players that play FIBA have incredible NBA seasons''

    How playing with their national teams helps superstars going into their NBA season:

    The National Team effect on LeBron: "Fire and desire were brought back to me"

    Wemby on his National Team summer: ''There's a lot I learned''

    FIBA

    Latest News

    Judd Flavell named coach of Tall Blacks

    Zubac: "Playing with Croatia helped me a lot to prepare for the season"

    Cash jackpot for the players that shone this summer

    Social Media
    FIBA Partners
    Event Sponsors
    Institutional Partners
    Global Supplier
    Copyright FIBA All rights reserved. No portion of FIBA.basketball may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing FIBA.basketball pages, you agree to abide by FIBA.basketball terms and conditions.