The Los Angeles Clippers will move forward without their starting center for the near future. Ivica Zubac will miss several weeks with a left ankle sprain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Yahoo reports.
Charania reported that Zubac suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain. The team has not offered a firm return date, but the diagnosis points to a multi-week absence.
Zubac suffered the injury late in the first quarter of Saturday’s 103–88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Intuit Dome. While attempting a shot near the elbow, Zubac landed on LeBron James’ foot and went down hard. He stayed on the floor as play continued, then limped to the locker room and did not return.
At the time of the injury, Zubac had five points and two rebounds in 11 minutes. The 28-year-old has averaged 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season, continuing a strong eighth year with the franchise.
Zubac Injury Adds to Difficult Stretch for Clippers
The win over the Lakers came during a challenging stretch for the Clippers. Los Angeles entered the weekend with a 7–21 record and had won only three of its previous 16 games. Saturday’s victory marked the team’s first home win since Oct. 31.
Kawhi Leonard led the way with a season-high 32 points in the win. On the other side, Lakers star Luka Doncic exited early with a lower leg contusion.
Even with the encouraging result, the Clippers now face the task of stabilizing their frontcourt without one of their most consistent players. Zubac leads the team in rebounds and blocks, ranks third in scoring, and owns a 60.9 field goal percentage that tops the Clippers’ starters.
Los Angeles next faces the Houston Rockets, and the absence of its primary interior presence complicates an already uphill climb in the Western Conference standings.
Lakers Praise Zubac as Clippers Adjust Rotation
Before Saturday’s game, Lakers center Jaxson Hayes spoke at length about the challenge Zubac presents.
“Zu is a dog, man,” Hayes said after shootaround. “I feel like he’s one of the most slept-on bigs in the league. If you play him, you know he’s like that.”
Hayes highlighted Zubac’s physicality, timing, and rebounding instincts, calling him one of the toughest matchups at the position. That respect underscored how significant his absence could be for the Clippers, particularly against teams with size and rim pressure.
With Zubac sidelined, rotation changes loom. Kobe Brown, who logged just four total minutes across the Clippers’ previous two games, could see an expanded role off the bench during Zubac’s recovery, per CBS Sports.
The injury also lands at a delicate moment on the calendar. Zubac’s name has surfaced in trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline. He is in the first season of a three-year, $58.6 million extension, carrying a $19.5 million average annual value, per Sports Net. His production has exceeded that figure so far, which adds intrigue to how rival teams might view his availability while he rehabs.
For now, the Clippers focus on weathering the next few weeks without their anchor in the middle, hoping to stay afloat until Zubac can return.
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