Pacers’ Ivica Zubac makes ‘best shape’ promise ahead of 2026-27 season

The Indiana Pacers are currently gearing up for the 2026-27 NBA season, which is slated to get underway in October. The Pacers do not have a pick in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft thanks to last year’s trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, in which Indiana brought in Ivica Zubac.

Due to the steep price the team paid to get him, Pacers fans will be expecting a lot out of Zubac this year, and recently, the big man spoke on how his limited reps with the team last season will help him moving forward.

“Definitely helped with [getting] a feel for how this team wants to play, about the pace, about defensive coverages, the defensive rotations,” Zubac said, per Tony East of Circle City Spin, via Hoopshype. “Offensively, where they want me to be, what they want me to do. So it definitely helped.”

Zubac also spoke on his state of mind this offseason as he looks to help a theoretical contender take the next step.

“…I kind of understood what they want from me, and (I’ve) got the whole summer to get in the best shape of my life and get ready for the next year,” he said.

Had the Pacers’ draft pick fallen just one spot higher in the lottery, they would have been able to keep it and add a top-four talent to their roster. Instead, the pick dropped to number five, and the Clippers got to have it for themselves this year, meaning Indiana will have to move forward empty-handed.

Still, the Pacers have most of their core from the 2025 NBA Finals run intact, and now with a seeming upgrade at center in Zubac, they should be right back in the mix as Eastern Conference contenders next season.

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