Last fall, no Clipper departed the league’s postseason bubble near Orlando, Fla., exactly happy with what had taken place. But if there was anyone who had reason to look back with a measure of fondness, it would have been Ivica Zubac.
It wasn’t only that the 23-year-old, 7-foot center had averaged 9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 24 minutes in 13 breakout playoffs games, while earning praise for the way he complemented Kawhi Leonard and Paul George offensively while backstopping their defense at the rim. It was the timing. Just one season earlier, during his first postseason appearance, he’d been benched.