Ivica Zubac has performed well in all the last five games for the Indiana Pacers and has made a good start to his life as a member of his new team. Zubac was dealing with some ankle problems, and the Pacers were well aware of this when they brought him in via a blockbuster trade. Thus, it's a pleasant surprise that he's already back-to-back suits up for Indiana.
However, given that the Pacers have all the incentive in the world to not win a lot of games, given that they will give their 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls within the fifth to tenth selection, they are undoubtedly going to manage Zubac's workload.
To that end, Zubac played only 23 minutes of their 117–109 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, exiting the contest with 10:44 remaining in the fourth quarter due to a head injury. He did not return to the game, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds during his time on the court.
The Pacers will have two full days of rest before taking the court on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs and for now, Zubac should be considered questionable for that game.
Ivica Zubac getting familiar with the Pacers' system
Zubac is going to learn how to play faster and expand his offensive game beyond the paint now that he is a member of the dangerous Pacers. This is invaluable time for Zubac and the Pacers, as he can become familiar with the system in a more low-pressure environment amid Indiana's gap year.
Indiana invested a ton of assets in Zubac, and only time will tell how successful their move will be. Nonetheless, it's easy to see why the Pacers brought him in, as he'll play such sweet string music with Tyrese Haliburton when the floor general returns.
