Beware of Ivica Zubac! The LA Clippers’ big man is no longer just a role player—he’s a force shaking up the league. Post-All-Star break, the 27-year-old Croatian has been on a tear, dominating the paint and fueling Ty Lue’s squad to victory. Sure, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are doing their thing, but Zu? He’s the unexpected storm opponents never see coming. Rising like a phoenix, he’s turning doubt into destruction—one game at a time. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the Clippers HC is placing his trust in Zubac’s gameplay.

Ivica Zubac was this close to his first triple-double of the season. But even without it, he left his mark. On Sunday, while James Harden and Kawhi Leonard poured in 31 and 23 points, Zu ran the show in his way—dropping 17 points, dishing a season-high 14 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds. The Intuit Dome roared as the Clippers steamrolled the Hornets 123-88. After the game, Ty Lue couldn’t help but rave about his big man. And honestly, how could he not?

Ty Lue opens up about Ivica Zubac’s rise in the Clippers’ rank in recent wins

Sunday’s monster game was just another chapter in Zu’s post-All-Star glow-up. Over his last 14 outings, the veteran big man has been unstoppable—dropping 19.9 points, snagging 11.9 rebounds, dishing 2.9 assists, and swatting 1.4 shots per game. And with a sizzling 65.6% shooting clip, he’s making every minute count. Meanwhile, one of the reporters asked Ty Lue about a moment late in the third when the thought crossed minds.

Could Zubac get those last two assists? A couple of DHOs or short rolls might have done the trick, but the game had its own rhythm. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lue said: “He did a good job.” With 5:43 left before halftime, Ivica Zubac calmly sank two free throws, pushing the Clippers ahead 45-34. From that moment on, there was no looking back. The lead stayed in double digits, and the Hornets never stood a chance.

“He’s really become elite in that pocket when he catches the ball in a short roll and makes the right pass,” Lue continues. “Even on his post-ups, to come a double, he’s doing a good job of taking his time, making the right pass, and making the right play. He’s only going to keep getting better. But I give him credit for what he’s done.” However, Ivica’s contributions are not limited to Sunday’s game alone.

It feels like despite James Harden’s presence, Paul George’s absence, and Kawhi Leonard’s comeback, a new element of power has emerged in the squad. And well, the Clippers HC credits Zubac for the change in rhythm. Ty Lue noted:  “The year Kawhi was out the whole year and PG missed all those games, we were just trying to generate points. So, we started posting Zu more. He got more and more comfortable.”

Lue has seen it firsthand—Ivica Zubac has earned his stripes. “It got to the point where we knew we could throw the ball down and trust him,” Lue added, praising Zu’s growth. Year after year, he’s sharpened his game, handling double teams better and owning his spots on the floor. But the biggest shift? “Our players trust him now.” No more doubts, no side-eyes in crunch time. When a play is drawn up for Zu, no one questions it. They believe. And that? That’s a game-changer.

However, there are two sides to this story as well. While the Clippers rejoiced in their win against the Hornets with Ivica Zubac, James Harden, and Kawhi Leonard holding the reins, there was someone whose comeback was completely lackluster. If you’ve guessed Norman Powell, clap for yourself. It looks like, coming back after seven games had an odd effect on the 31YO guard.

Clippers HC issues emotional confession for Norman Powell’s weak comeback on Sunday

Veteran guard Norman Powell wore his Clippers jersey after staying out for seven games on Sunday. His hamstring injury had been a real problem that kept him away from the frontline. Therefore, his comeback was something the fans were looking forward to. However, it was a disappointment. Chipping in 7 points in 23 minutes, the 31YO was far from glorious. Meanwhile, Ty Lue had to take sides with his player, so he told the media:

“He’s so hard on himself. He wants to play great because of all the work he puts in. But when you miss almost a month of the season, it’s hard to get back in. Especially in your first game, it’s going to take you four or five games to kind of get your flow and rhythm. But he takes it personally.”

Lue further added that Powell will stay with the setback and work on himself. “He’s going to be fine. Once he finds his rhythm and the game slows down for him a little bit, I think he’ll be just fine,” Ty Lue concluded.

Thus, the Clippers are evolving, and Ivica Zubac is at the heart of it. His dominance is undeniable, his impact is unstoppable. Meanwhile, Norman Powell fights his own battle, pushing through setbacks. But as Ty Lue believes—trust and time change everything. With Zu rising and Powell finding his rhythm, the Clippers’ story is far from over.