Showed his range today, will serve him well in this league. He's very under control with his body and thats great. Got posterized pretty badly too but he's taking it well. Love this kid.
Everybody gets posterized... Zu knows it so it isn't a big deal. He'll get some more and turn around deal his own. Nance came down...delivered in response for his boy.
I'd rather have players that get posterized trying to block shots rather than those staying away. It must be an american thing that its embarassing to get posterized. Because over here people don't care.
I was getting pretty fumed that he wasn't getting touches from the bench. That one camp fodder #5 kept running garbage.
That 2 block sequence totally reminds me of 18 year-old Bynum and how high we were on him. I remember a sequence where a young Bynum did back-2-back blocks on a prime Jermaine O'Neal just like that.
Agree 100%.. I tell my high school guys all the time not to worry about failing or looking bad, just go play hard and be willing to take a chance. You worry about missing a shot or getting dunked on or whatever you will never be as good as if you just let it loose. Great post!
At least get a hand up Zublacca, I like that he tried to get in the way, but he forgot he was allowed to get up and contest. He responded well though, a block, a tip in and a jumper after. Can't shake him.
He ducked so he got a Booker T axe kick. The thing is, he has this ability to not foul around the basket. Awesome kid. I'm giddy that we have a center prospect after Bynum.
He said he expected a pump fake and that was the reason he didn't jump or get his hands up. Took a gamble and got burned. No biggie.
Kid looks like an absolute steal. Great nab thanks to Mitch and the scouting department. Game one he was a beast. Game 2 was 3 quarters of s*** from everyone. We look have have a great rotation of young bigs off the bench with Black, Zu, and Nance.
Talk about Big Balls This kid has them and a Basketball Jones to leave his family and friends and be on his own since 15. http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-zubac-20160710-snap-story.html Lakers rookie Ivica Zubac is living his dream of being an NBA player Lakers' D'Angelo Russell steals show from Ingram, 76ers' Simmons with a buzzer beater It didn’t take long for Lakers fans to become enamored with young Zubac. After his long arms stretched out to block a shot against New Orleans in his debut with the Lakers in the summer league Friday night, the fans chanted “Zu-bac!” repeatedly. They obviously were happy with what they were seeing from the 19-year-old whose name is pronounced EE-vits-uh ZOO-bahtz. He had two more blocks to go with 11 points and five rebounds. “His defense has been great for us,” Lakers Coach Luke Walton said. “He has a nice touch. He’s skilled, can shoot a mid-range jumper and can score in the post. For a 19-year-old kid that’s living in America by himself for weeks, he’s been great. He’s been a pleasant surprise.” “I tell him all the time, he reminds me of Marc Gasol a little bit, a big fella with some sweetness to him,” D’Angelo Russell said. “But, he’s really good. I don’t think people know how good he is yet.” Zubac had to find his way as a player, admitting he needed some type of self-assurance that the NBA was a possibility. His cousin Zoran Planinic played three seasons for the then-New Jersey Nets, and became Zubac’s mentor. Zubac had been a fan of Memphis center Gasol and NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. Then last summer came, when Zubac played on the Croatian national team in the Under-19 World Championships in Greece. He averaged 17.6 points in the tournament, the third-highest average, and 7.9 rebounds. But it was during the championship game Croatia lost in overtime to the United States, 79-71, when Zubac recalled how he got his assurance he could play in The League. He had a double-double against the Americans, posting 12 points and 13 rebounds. “Nobody before knew me,” Zubac said. “We almost beat USA. We lost in overtime. So after that, I knew it. This is it. If I continue to work hard, I can make it to the NBA.” The transition Zubac will have to make to play with grown men probably is more challenging than it will be for most other rookies. It’ll be more than just getting stronger and learning how to play. Zubac is living in a new world and English is not his first language. But he has been on his own since he was 15, and believes that will serve him well in Los Angeles, where he plans to live with his girlfriend. “I learned how to cook, how to iron clothes,” Zubac said. “That really helped me be more mature than guys who are my age. “Look, nobody is expecting too much from me for now. But I want to prove them wrong and I want to prove that I can help.” Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner
Funny that we potentially already have our starting five for our next run as a contender. We have drafted at every position. But if we knew Zubac was this good and had this much confidence in him, why did we sign Mozgov to such a big, long deal? If you think the kid is a lottery talent (which the Lakers reportedly did), why commit to another player at that position to 4 years and a ton of money?
Someone said it good awhile ago .... the more monsters the better. Mozzie too can contribute in a big way if healthy and is PERFECT as a good guy, a vet, a Euro like Zu and will be a great mentor with skills information physically and mentally concerning what it takes to be a good big man in this "Man's League" per Luke, and same benefits therefore as with Deng and Ingram?
I said this in the Summer League thread as well, but you have to consider the competition. Mozgov would slaughter these kids.
I don't like the "girlfriend" part. She's reportedly 6 years older than him (or so) and has the looks of an airhead, forgive me my snap judgment. Not exactly a nurturing environment, but probably lots of sex...
He sure will be visible out in public as he gets better known real quick. All these guys. You don't like seeing overkill with it but I hope where they go they're careful about how they respond to antagonism and hopefully have some kind of low key, low profile, but effective security if needed. You know like the normal sized not looking for trouble youtube you see of some unimposing guy being able to go out in the alley in back and box / martial art 5 or 6 other dudes leaving them on the ground or running.....for groping or harassing his woman. Ideally to steer them away from responding to crap and the security person being skilled in defusing situations.
