Nikola Jokic had high praise for Ivica Zubac on Thursday, describing the Clippers’ center as a significantly improved player ahead of Game 1 between Denver and Los Angeles.
“He was kind of one-dimensional before. But now he can post up, he can pass from the pocket. He’s really evolving his game,” Jokic said in comments shared ahead of the playoff series opener at Ball Arena.
Jokic also complimented Zubac’s work on the defensive end, calling him “a really good defender” while expressing enthusiasm for the matchup.
The Nuggets center enters the postseason averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists on 57.6% shooting over 70 games in the regular season.
Zubac, in turn, posted career-best numbers across the board with 15.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 62.8% from the field for Los Angeles.
This marks the first playoff meeting between the two franchises since the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals, when Denver overcame a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Clippers in seven games.
Zubac’s expanded offensive role has added new dimensions to the Clippers’ attack, which also features Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Leonard averaged 23.8 points and shot 52.5% from the field, while Harden added 22.8 points and a team-high 8.7 assists.
