Jeni Watson
Ivica Zubac is a Croatian-born professional basketball player who plays center for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. He was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft. Before joining the NBA, Ivica had four years of professional playing experience in Europe.
About Ivica Zubac | Family and Education
On March 18, 1997, in Mostar, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, basketball player Ivica Zubac from Croatia was born.
He is the oldest child of Ivan and Dijana Zubac. He also has a sister, two younger brothers, and other relatives.
Ivica was brought up in Citluk, a town on the outskirts of Croatia. Zubac, who has two citizenship, identifies himself as Croatian. When Zubac was younger, he attended a private school in the same city.
He began playing basketball for fun when he was just five years old.
His father, Ivan, enjoyed playing basketball in his adolescence. Ivica Planinic’s cousin Zoran Planinic was also an NBA player at the time.
View this post on Instagram
He was motivated to continue playing basketball as a result of his cousin and his fit father.
Even a tiny court had been set up for Ivan’s boys and friends to play on to practice their sport. He used to play basketball with the bigger neighborhood lads as a child.
When he couldn’t keep up with the older lads, he initially felt difficult. He felt like he was not made for playing basketball as a result of their frequent disregard for him.
But later on, he grew taller, which boosted his self-assurance.
So, three years after entirely quitting basketball, he made a comeback to the floor. Further, he joined the neighborhood squad and participated in drills and shooting practice.
Siblings
With Ivo Bundic as the team’s new coach, he consequently made quick success in a short amount of time.
Antonio, his younger brother, is a power forward in basketball and is similarly tall. Similar to his oldest brother, Mario, his younger sibling plays basketball and aspires to play in the NBA.
Additionally, Marijaandjela is the name of the player’s younger sister.
Ivica never went to college since he later gave his basketball career his undivided attention.
Professional Life and Career
Ivica Zubac spent several years as a player for the Brotnjo squad in his birthplace. However, he quickly took control of the local games.
As a result, he received a request from the Cibona Zagreb to take part in a contest in Croatia.
A short while after, the team moved him to the Zrinjevac squad, where he played for over a year in Croatia’s second league tier.
View this post on Instagram
When he returned, he played with the Cibona in the Adriatic League, where he won the league title in 2014.
Before being moved to the Mega Leks of the Serbian Basketball League, he played for the team for one more season.
Ivica left Serbia for the NBA League in America after a brief professional stint there.
NASCAR Career
Zubac participated in the NBA draft in 2016 while still playing for Mega Leks. The Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the 32nd overall selection in the second round.
A deal he signed with the Lakers on July 7, 2016, was made. His summer league assignment for the 2016 NBA was soon after given to him by the franchise.
Ultimately, he played for the team’s NBA debut on November 2 against the Atlanta Hawks.
Throughout his 2.5 NBA seasons with the Lakers, Zubac tried to perform well.
He received relatively little playing time, and as a result, his performance throughout his stay at the club was not very successful.
View this post on Instagram
As a result, the Lakers traded him to the LA Clippers on February 7, 2019. After joining the new team, he showed some progress and took part in his first NBA playoff games.
Zubac scored 9.4 points on average while interacting with about 26 players.
He also played a significant role in the Lakers’ two additional NBA playoff berths in the 2019–20 and 2020–21 campaigns.
He participated in 72 games throughout both seasons and did admirably, particularly with his blocks and rebounds.
View this post on Instagram
His exceptional blocking skills led the Clippers to refer to him as “Zublocka.”
He is still a Clippers player and has progressed from previous years. Given that he has already played in more than 50 games, his season should feature some impressive stats.
Career on the national team
Although he is qualified to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has always competed for Croatia in various international competitions.
At the 2013 FIBA Europe U-16 Championship, he made his debut for the Croatian junior national team.
View this post on Instagram
Zubac played admirably, averaging 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and even took home awards at the 2015 FIBA competition.
The 7-foot-tall athlete is presently competing for the Croatian senior national team in several competitions.
You might also be interested in learning more about Jake Muzzin
Recognition & Achievements
Ivica Zubac began his professional basketball career at a very young age. He has garnered a lot of praise and attention for his basketball career.
Unfortunately, he has not yet received any NBA awards outside of fame. However, he won two important European League awards soon after beginning his basketball career.
View this post on Instagram
He still has a ton of potential to succeed and amass significant rewards because he is so young.
His accolades and accomplishments include:
- Serbian Cup winner (2016)
- Second Team All-World Championship U-19 recognition (2015)
- champion of the Adriatic League (2014)
Relationship Status
Ivica Zubac is engaged in an intense relationship with Kristina Prisc, who is also a citizen of Croatia.
In the Bahamas in 2020, the two got engaged in a small, intimate ceremony in front of a small number of close friends and family.
Ivica initially met Kristina in 2015 and got in touch with her right away. The young, aspiring basketball player showed interest in her in return, and the two have been dating ever since.
Kristina Prisc was born on May 1, 1992. She graduated with a journalism degree from a Croatian university in 2016.
View this post on Instagram
Prisc chose to work as a model instead of pursuing a career in journalism because she did not enjoy it.
Kristina also enjoys animals and especially likes dogs and horses. Prisc even has her stable where she often brings her horses to compete in horse races.
Returning to the present, she routinely visits America to meet her boyfriend, and their journeys are enjoyable. She also exercises frequently because she is a huge fitness freak.
View this post on Instagram
The pair had to put off their 2020 wedding because of the coronavirus outbreak. But they’re expected to announce their wedding date very soon.
They have not yet had any children.
Net Worth and Salary | Ivica Zubac
Ivica Zubac, one of the best young European players in the NBA, is thought to be worth $3 million.
League games are his main source of income. As a young player in Europe, he began moving up the ranks. Regarding his income from European institutions, there isn’t any trustworthy information.
The athlete’s life, however, altered when the Los Angeles Lakers chose him in the 2016 NBA Draft. In just his inaugural season, the team offered him a large sum of money—roughly $1 million.
View this post on Instagram
He received a salary of about $1.3 million to play for the same squad the following season. He received a rise in his wages after signing with the LA Clippers in 2019.
Ivica received a nearly $1.5 million contract offer from the Clippers for his rookie campaign. Next season, the player will earn $6.5 million more thanks to the club.
The athlete’s current yearly salary is roughly $7.5 million. He has accumulated a wealth of over $17.3 million during his NBA career.
Body Measurement | Hair, Height, Weight
In 2022, the basketball player from Croatia will be 25 years old. He has a birthday celebration on March 18 every year.
At the moment, he weighs 240 pounds (109 kg). However, Zubac’s primary childhood condition was obesity.
When he first entered the NBA, he was one of the very few players with fat percentages in the double digits.
To devote himself solely to the gym in 2017, he chose to forego the full Eurobasket competition.
View this post on Instagram
He was able to reduce his body fat to only 8% as a result, gaining the moniker “Eight Percent” among his teammates.
Additionally, he stands 2.13 meters tall (7 feet). He believes that his gigantic build is the result of his parents.
His mother’s highest point is 6 feet 2 inches, and his father, Ivan, stands at 6 feet 6 inches. In addition, Ivica has dark eyes and brown hair.
Social Media
Instagram: @ivicazubac
Twitter: @ivicazubac
Facebook: IvicaZubac
Frequently Asked Question:
Who is the Clippers’ number 40?
The 40th player for the Clippers is Ivica Zubac. He has been wearing that jersey number for them ever since the 2018–19 NBA season began. He wore the same jersey number while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ivica Zubac started thinking about playing in the NBA when?
While still in school, Ivica Zubac started to have fantasies of playing in the NBA. Though the exact age is unknown. He began taking part in little competitions when he was just 7 years old.
In addition, he began to fantasize about playing in the NBA once his cousin started a professional career there.
Quick Facts | Ivica Zubac
| Full Name | Ivica Zubac |
| Date of Birth | March 18, 1997 |
| Birth Place | Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Nick Name | Zablocki, Zu, Eight Percent |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | Croatian/Bosnian |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Age | 25 years old |
| Height | 2.13 m (7 feet) |
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Ivan Zubac |
| Mother’s Name | Dijana Zubac |
| Siblings | Two brothers and a sister |
| Siblings’ Name | Mario, Antonio, and Marijaandjela Zubac |
| Education | Not available |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Girlfriend’s Name | Kristina Prisc |
| Kid | None |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| NBA Draft | 2016 |
| Position | Center |
| League |
|
| Active Years | (2013–present) |
| Net Worth | $3 million |
| Currently Plays for | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Former Clubs |
|
| Jersey Number (Recent) | 40 |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
|
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch | Notebook, Cards |
| Last Update | September 2022 |
