For NBA players, there are different reasons why they are motivated to play at their best. From their families, loved ones, to securing their futures, these are just some of the more popular ones that help them perform better night in and night out.

However, for Los Angeles Lakers big man Ivica Zubac, he uses an experience he had recently to keep the fire in him burning, and not settle for anything less than his full capacity.

Head coach Luke Walton said recently, via the Lakers official Facebook page, that the 20-year-old Croatian international is using his sub par performances during the Summer League as motivation to once again return to his form during the late stages of last season.

“He was disappointed in it. Obviously, we were disappointed in it,” Walton said after Sunday’s practice. “We had a sitdown talk with him and he kind of, it happens, he kind of assumed because he had success at the end of last season in the NBA that summer league would be easy for him. When you go in with that mindset and you’re playing a bunch of young guys that are hungry trying to make jobs, trying to get jobs, it’s gonna be a tough place to success at. But since then I really think he’s used that to motivate him to get to where he’s at right now, including being eight percent body fat.”

Zubac emerged as a more than serviceable big man for the Lakers, and even started some games for them last year. His versatility on both ends of the floor became his biggest asset, and allowed him to receive more playing time then.

In the preseason opener on Saturday, Zubac had a solid game with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in only 19 minutes of action. If he can continue his production throughout next season, he could once again have a huge role for the Lakers, and establish himself as a rising star in the league.