The Los Angeles Clippers saw their starting center, Ivica Zubac, go down with an injury on Saturday night.
Late in the first quarter of the matchup between the Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, Zubac had an awkward landing after putting up a shot.
The veteran center was down on the court for a bit, clearly dealing with pain and discomfort. He was slow to get up, but managed to walk off the court using his own power.
Zubac went back to the Clippers’ locker room to get checked out. It wasn’t long before the Clippers ruled out the veteran center for the remainder of the game.
He checked out of the game after seeing the court for 11 minutes. The veteran center shot 2-3 from the field to score five points. He racked up two rebounds and notched one assist before his night ended prematurely.
IVICA ZUBAC IS INJURED,
— The Sports Casual (@sportscasual67) December 21, 2025
CLIPPERS SEASON IN TOTAL JEAPORDY NOW, pic.twitter.com/klT3g12GR2
Zubac Has Become a Popular Trade Target
With the Clippers struggling to begin the 2025-2026 NBA season, Zuback has become a popular trade target for teams on the hunt for a valuable big man.
At this point, all signs have pointed to the Clippers keeping Zubac off limits in trade discussions. Although the Clippers’ record doesn’t suggest they are championship contenders themselves, the organization doesn’t view this year as a lost season. Heading into Saturday’s action against the 9-17 Lakers, the Clippers have just six wins.
"The Clippers have shoved away people calling, because the vultures are circling with Zubac," NBA analyst Zach Lowe recently said on an episode of The Bill Simmons podcast.
Zubac’s potential setback will surely add a wrinkle to the situation. For starters, he’s been a bright spot on a struggling Clippers team. In the 27 games leading up to Saturday’s action, Zubac was posting averages of 16.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks.
Not many players in the NBA are truly untouchable. Zubac is unlikely to fall under that category, even if the Clippers are hesitant to move him now. With a setback potentially in play, that could have an effect on how teams operate ahead of the February deadline.