Ivica Zubac Injury, Latest on Clippers Center's Ankle and Timeline to Return
It appears Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac could return to the court this weekend after recovering from an ankle injury.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Zubac is available to return for Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics.
The Clippers announced on December 21 that Zubac would be reevaluated in three weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left ankle sprain, per Charania and Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
Zubac left a 103-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter and didn't return after hobbling off the court.
It was major loss for a 7-21 Clippers team that has been one of the NBA's biggest disappointments this season. Zubac, 28, is averaging 15.6 points, 11.1 points, 2.5 assists and a block per game in 2025-26, shooting 60.9 percent from the field.
He's been one of the few bright spots for a team that has already endured the Chris Paul saga, Kawhi Leonard's carefully-managed workload and injury issues, Bradley Beal's season-ending hip injury and a number of other knocks that have limited the team's depth.
Zubac has been pretty durable throughout his career, appearing in 68 or more contests in six straight seasons coming into 2025-26 while developing a reputation as a tough matchup for opposing centers.
"Zu is a dog, man," Lakers center Jaxson Hayes told reporters of the veteran. "He's, honestly, I feel like one of the most slept-on bigs in the league, man. If you play him, you know he's like that. Zu has been like that for years."
Brook Lopez has slid into the starting lineup while Zubac has been out, though the team's center options beyond that aren't great. With the veteran set to return, the Clippers will be better off moving forward.
