The season for the Los Angeles Clippers—oh boy, where do I even begin? It’s a roller coaster, honestly. Some folks thought they’d crash and burn, yet here they are, surprising the skeptics. A lot of that surprise package? Ivica Zubac. This guy’s a powerhouse in the making; from day one of this season, he’s been on another level entirely.
And get this, Sam Vecenie, who kinda knows his stuff, is throwing Zubac’s name into the ring for, plot twist, Most Improved Player of the Year. I mean, Vecenie practically gushed on social media: “I might just be team Zubac for Most Improved—no joke. He’s leaped into the stratosphere, not just riding on a Harden-induced high. It’s legit. Defense? Solid. Rebounding? Top of the league. Plus, he’s got this sneaky hook shot that’s just fun to watch. Zubac’s killing it.” Okay, those weren’t his exact words, but you get the gist.
Last season Zubac’s stats were solid, mind you—he averaged 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds. Flash forward to now, and the stats don’t lie: 16.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Numbers aside, the Clippers fandom was jittery, with one eye constantly twitching over James Harden’s form—and don’t even get me started on Kawhi Leonard’s health scares.
But here’s the twist, Zubac defied the doubt. He’s been an absolute angel for this team’s energy—wreaking havoc in the paint and shoring up the defense like nobody’s business. You ever tried averaging a double-double? It’s Herculean.
Competition for Most Improved has never been thin—guys like Cade Cunningham and Austin Reaves are bringing their A-game too. So winning this thing? It’s a tight race. But even if Zubac doesn’t take the trophy home, the mark he’s left on this team is tattooed in franchise history. Clippers fans will tell you—they’re living on Cloud Nine for what he’s done this season.
Now as we catch our breath and plunge into playoff chaos, what more can Zubac pull out of his magic hat? I don’t know about you, but I’ve got my popcorn ready for what promises to be a wild postseason ride.
