Ivica Zubac Won’t Be Rushed Into Pacers Debut, Carlisle Says

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stressed that Ivica Zubac will not feature until an ongoing ankle problem fully settles, even after the centre arrived from the Los Angeles Clippers in a major trade designed to address Indiana’s long-term need at the position.

The Pacers also landed forward Kobe Brown in the same deal, which sent Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick to the Clippers shortly before the NBA trade deadline.

The move for Zubac followed the departure of Myles Turner in free agency last summer, leaving Indiana short at centre. Zubac is under contract through the 2027-28 season and is expected to form a key partnership with Tyrese Haliburton when Haliburton returns next season from a torn Achilles.

Zubac missed his final appearance for the Clippers due to the birth of his first child, yet the 28-year-old had played in nine straight games before that and featured in 43 contests this season. Zubac is averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds, standing fifth in the NBA in rebounding.

However, Carlisle underlined that the ankle issue, which has troubled Zubac since December, will dictate any debut timeline for Indiana rather than the team’s current struggles. Carlisle said: "It's kind of yo-yo'd a little bit, Carlisle said of Zubac's injury. My understanding from talking to him is that there's still something there that's not quite right. We're not going to put him out there until he's really ready. He's a guy that has played 94 or 95 percent of his games throughout his career. I'm presuming that's because he's always raring to go through things.That’s not going to be an option here."

Carlisle’s remarks came before Indiana fell 105-99 to the Milwaukee Bucks, a result that dropped the Pacers to 13-39. Andrew Nembhard scored 22 points and Pascal Siakam added 19, but Indiana now holds the NBA’s second-worst record and sits 10 games behind the final play-in place.

The coach also highlighted that Zubac will change how the Indiana Pacers operate at centre compared with Turner’s stretch style. Carlisle said: "The two guys are different. We'll study it and figure out how it all fits together. It'll look a little different than when Myles was out there. I feel both those guys are top-10 centers in the NBA. So we're fortunate to have made the deal."

Carlisle’s cautious approach to Zubac’s health signals a longer-term view in Indiana, where the franchise is trying to stabilise after a difficult NBA season. The Pacers are prioritising a full recovery for Zubac while planning a future core built around Zubac, Haliburton and Siakam once everyone is fit.