The Indiana Pacers reminded their fans about Ivica Zubac during NBA free agency.
They used their official social media account to spotlight their starting center’s latest international performance, and it was another encouraging offseason marker for a Pacers team hoping Zubac can become a major part of its next playoff push.
The Pacers posted on X that Zubac finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in Croatia’s 103-75 win over Israel on July 6. The box score showed Zubac went 7-of-8 from the field in 26 minutes, giving Croatia efficient production from the middle while the team rolled to a 28-point victory.
That matters for Indiana because Zubac’s summer is not just a national-team sidebar. The Pacers paid a significant price to acquire him from the Los Angeles Clippers before the 2026 trade deadline, with the New York Post reporting that Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and draft compensation to Los Angeles in the deal.
Now, during a free agency period centered on how the Pacers build around their core, Zubac is giving Indiana visible evidence that he is healthy, active and still producing like a high-level interior center.
Ivica Zubac Gives Pacers Another Strong Croatia Showing
Zubac’s latest game against Israel followed another dominant Croatia performance earlier in the week.
nba.com/news/nba-players-fiba-world-cup-qualifiers-july-2026″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>NBA.com noted that Zubac had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks while shooting 10-of-13 from the field in Croatia’s 123-50 win over Cyprus.
The Israel game was not as statistically loud, but it may have been just as relevant for Pacers fans. Zubac did not need high usage to make an impact. He finished plays, controlled the glass and added four assists, the kind of connective production Indiana will need when its offense is back closer to full strength.
For the Pacers, that is the encouraging part. Zubac does not have to be the focal point every night. He has to screen, rebound, protect the paint, finish around the rim and give Indiana a physical presence that travels in playoff basketball.
The Croatia minutes offer a summer snapshot of that role.
Why Zubac’s Form Matters for Indiana’s Next Step
Zubac is not a free agent. He is under contract after previously signing a three-year, $58.6 million extension with the Clippers, a deal NBA.com reported in 2024 before he was later traded to Indiana. Spotrac lists that contract as running through the 2027-28 season.
That is why the Pacers’ post lands differently than a routine offseason stat graphic. Indiana is not merely celebrating a player getting some summer reps. The franchise is pointing fans toward one of its most important long-term pieces.
The Pacers have already been through the hard version of a roster reset. Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury changed the short-term trajectory of the franchise, and Indiana confirmed last summer that he would miss the entire 2025-26 season while rehabbing.
With Haliburton progressing back toward full basketball activity, Zubac’s fit becomes a central question. Indiana’s best version is still built around pace, pressure and Haliburton’s ability to create easy shots. Zubac gives that offense a different kind of release valve: a bruising screener, vertical finisher and offensive rebounder who can punish smaller lineups.
That is not the same profile Pacers fans were used to with Myles Turner. It is more paint-based, more physical and less dependent on spacing from the center spot. But it also gives Indiana a sturdier interior option for matchups where finesse is not enough.
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