How Pacers Are Adjusting System Around Ivica Zubac Ahead of Season Opener

Ivica Zubac opens his first full season with the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at New Orleans, eight months after Indiana acquired him from the LA Clippers.

The Feb. 5 trade sent Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to Los Angeles. Zubac played five games for Indiana afterward, averaging 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 23.6 minutes, before he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Between the two teams, the 29-year-old center averaged 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds in 48 games. He made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2025 with the Clippers, who acquired him from the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2019. The Lakers had drafted him 32nd overall in 2016.

Fieldhouse Files' Scott Agness has Zubac starting at center ahead of Jay Huff and Larry Nance Jr. on his opening-night depth chart.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Indiana is changing certain things on its end because Zubac is different from any player the Pacers have had.

"Our system is slightly different than what they did with the Clippers," Carlisle said, "but he's working hard at adjusting to how we play, and there's certain things that we're adjusting because he's a little different than anybody we've ever had."

"You never are all the way to your destination," Carlisle continued. "There's always going to be work and adjustments and continued need for attention to detail, with everything, with Zu and everybody else we have."

Andrew Nembhard started all 57 games he played last season and averaged 16.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 31.3 minutes. He sat out the final seven games with a back issue.

This preseason, Nembhard missed the Oct. 13 game at Oklahoma City. He returned for the finale against the Milwaukee Bucks and had 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 7 assists.

Defensively, the work for Nembhard right now is building chemistry on both sides and learning his teammates' tendencies.

"Just communicating what we see out there and understanding," Nembhard said. "We're just working on him getting up to touch. He's always been in a drop. I think the biggest thing that he helps us with is the defensive rebounds and our defensive possessions, but start our offense too."

Milwaukee finished regulation in Friday's 128-127 overtime win with 18 offensive rebounds to Indiana's 8. The Bucks also held a 23-6 edge in second-chance points.

Zubac had 11 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting in the first half and did not play after halftime. Tyrese Haliburton put the boxing out on the guards afterward, himself included, and called Zubac the best rebounder the Pacers have played with.

Haliburton also said Zubac's screening already lets him play pick-and-roll at a different pace. Pascal Siakam has described how Zubac changes Indiana's style on the other end.

Indiana's projected starters are Haliburton, Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Siakam, and Zubac. Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and did not play last season. Nesmith missed the last two preseason games with a hamstring injury.

Being back in the gym with a group that feels it has a real chance to win this year is exciting for Nembhard.

"It's been like a year or so, so it's just like creating that chemistry like I was talking about," Nembhard explained. "A lot of guys can do a lot of different things out there, so just trying to be aggressive but also fit in at the same time."

Zubac's contract runs through the 2027-28 season. Tip-off at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday is 8 p.m. ET.