Clippers, Ivica Zubac agree to 3-year, $58.6M contract extension

Ivica Zubac and the Clippers agreed to a three-year, $58.6 million contract extension on Friday, the starting center rewarded for what one team official called a “career year.”

It was the maximum allowable extension Zubac could sign, and he is now guaranteed four years and $70 million through the 2027-2028 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He had one year and $11.7 million remaining on his current contract.

Zubac, 27, averaged a career-high 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season, including a double-double over the final month. He then averaged 16.2 points in their six-game Western Conference playoff series loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He also was instrumental in helping his teammates get baskets, according to Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations.

“We love Zu and (would) love to keep Zu here,” Frank said of the 6-foot-10 Croatian during his end-of-the-season news conference.

“I think James (Harden) had a lot to do with unlocking it,” Frank said of Zubac’s career season. “Zu I think led the league in shooting percentage between six and eight feet. You know, developed a floater with either hand. I think he was second in points produced out of post-ups behind (Kristaps) Porzingis (of the Boston Celtics).”

Zubac also held opponents to 49.6% shooting at the rim last season, the best mark in the league among players to defend 200-plus shots, per Second Spectrum. He played in 68 of the team’s 82 games last season, with the Clippers going 42-26 in those games.

“He’s 27, he continues to work,” Frank said. “He loves to play every single night and hates it when he gets injured. It just kills him not to play in a game. He’s our longest-tenured Clipper.”

Zubac, who is entering his seventh season with the team, was acquired from the Lakers in a February 2019 trade. In eight NBA seasons, Zubac has averaged 9.4 points and 7.2 rebounds.

The Clippers lost All-NBA swingman Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this summer but they retained Harden on a new deal, signed free agents Nicolas Batum and Derrick Jones and have now extended Zubac.