Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac and his wife Kristina Prisc attend the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac and his wife Kristina Prisc attend the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
NBA fans are used to seeing trades happen in seconds on their phone screens. But for veteran center Ivica Zubac, a sudden phone call in February 2026 brought a life-changing reality. The timing of the trade made the situation difficult for the young family.
Just days before the trade deadline, Ivica Zubac and his wife welcomed their first child, a baby girl. While he was in the house trying to figure out how to use a bottle warmer, a call came from the Los Angeles Clippers front office, just two hours before the deadline closed.
Zubac recalled the exact moment. "In complete shock. I put the phone down. I rush downstairs, [his wife] is not there. I went to the bedroom, and she’s under the sheets, crying. It lasted for weeks. Every day.”
This was detailed in an article by Basketball Network, which reported an interview shared via an embedded YouTube video.
His wife’s reaction revealed their deep roots in Los Angeles. Zubac had spent nearly a decade in the city. He played three seasons for the Lakers before spending six seasons as a core piece of the Clippers.
Moving to the other side of the country with a newborn baby added to his stress. The Indiana Pacers tried to make things easier by letting the center stay in Los Angeles for several days during the All-Star break to support his family.
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac and his wife Kristina Prisc attend the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac and his wife Kristina Prisc attend the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
He had to live out of an Indiana hotel while his family stayed behind.
Later in the season, a fractured rib injury allowed him to return to California for treatment, which he called a blessing in disguise because it brought him back to his wife and child.
The sudden move surprised everyone, but it also led to a shift on the court for both franchises.
How the Clippers-Pacers Trade Changed Ivica Zubac's Career
According to career data on Basketball Reference, he was drafted by the Lakers in 2016 before being traded to the Clippers in February 2019. By the time the trade deal closed in 2026, Zubac was the longest-tenured player for the Clippers.
He topped many franchise records, including total games played among the active roster, playoff appearances, and total rebounds.
The front office decided to move him because the Clippers wanted to secure valuable assets for a roster rebuild.
In exchange for him and Kobe Brown, Los Angeles received a haul. It included Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 top-4 protected first-round pick (which later conveyed as the No. 5 overall pick), a 2028 second-round pick, and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick.
Unfortunately, Zubac appeared in just 5 games for his new team. He averaged 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Mar 12, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) holds the ball while Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mar 12, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) holds the ball while Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
His season came to an end in late March 2026, when the team shut him down for the remainder of the year due to a fractured rib.
The Pacers finished the 2025-26 season with a disappointing record, marking one of the toughest stretches in franchise history while playing without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who missed significant time with a torn Achilles tendon
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Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Koushik Biswas