Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac had a strong start to his preseason campaign. With Brook Lopez sidelined with back spasms, Zubac scored nine points with five rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After the game, the young big man told Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints that the game now feels much slower for him as he enters his second year in the league.
Ivica Zubac on first preseason game: “I feel much better. The game is much slower.” #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 1, 2017
Zubac had a surprisingly effective rookie campaign last season and was arguably the best center on the roster. At just 19, he played in 38 games (11 starts) and averaged 7.5 points with 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16 minutes per game. He also showed good athleticism and feel for the game for a player of his age.
With a full year of experience now under his belt, it’s a promising sign that he is beginning to feel more comfortable in the NBA and that the game is finally slowing down for him.
Despite the presence of Lopez and Larry Nance Jr., who got the start at center for the Lakers against the Timberwolves, Zubac should find more opportunities to play over the course of the season, especially if he continues to show more improvement in his game.
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