Brook Lopez suggests he and Ivica Zubac might play in the same lineup: "I think we complement each other extremely well"

Brook Lopez suggests he and Ivica Zubac might play in the same lineup: “I think we complement each other extremely well” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Brook Lopez and Ivica Zubac, teammates on the 2017-18 Los Angeles Lakers, are reuniting — again in California, but this time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Lopez, fresh off a two-year, $18 million deal, hinted at more to come: the big-man duo could even start together in coach Tyronn Lue’s Clippers lineup next season.

Combining two bigs

In recent years, the NBA has seen a resurgence. Teams have shifted from relying on a single big man to pairing two together.

While this shift is notable — small-ball lineups without traditional centers had actually been rising — it carries a proven track record of success. Two outstanding teams from last season serve as prime examples.

The Cleveland Cavaliers frontcourt featured Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, both standing 6’11”, who played a major role in their historic 15-0 start and dominant 64-18 regular-season record.

The Oklahoma City Thunder did the same with seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein and 7’1″ Chet Holmgren, achieving even greater success. Just weeks ago, OKC won the championship title by defeating the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in the NBA Finals.

Clippers’ frontcourt shuffle

A key to successfully pairing two big men is clear: one needs to command the paint with post presence, while the other must stretch the floor with reliable range — from midrange shots to three-pointers — to keep spacing fluid.

Lopez, though no longer in his prime, fits perfectly as the floor-spreading partner in this equation.

Over his first eight NBA seasons, the now 37-year-old attempted just 0.1 three-pointers per game. Since then, however, he has developed into one of the league’s premier stretch fives. Over the past three years with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook has averaged nearly five three-point attempts per game, knocking them down at an impressive 37.1 percent.

His next goal? To showcase that same ability with his hometown team, the Clippers.

While Lopez aims to do just that, Zubac will take on the other frontcourt role — grinding inside, battling for rebounds and bringing the physicality of a more traditional big man.

“I think we complement each other extremely well,” Lopez said of Zubac, per the LA Times. “Obviously, we’ll be very big. I think we’ll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off. And then offensively, we complement each other there as well. I’ll spread the floor for him, give him all the room in the paint to go wild.”

What could strengthen their chances for success is the fact that Brook and Ivica — whom he calls “my guy” — are good buddies.

“He (Zubac) texted me right away, (saying) how excited he was to have me on the team,” Lopez shared. “I told him the same thing back. I’m excited to win and I think that’s what we’re all here for and it’s going to be so much fun.”

Still, the team’s head coach Lue has more frontcourt options.

John Collins, recently acquired from Utah, is in the mix to start at power forward. Derrick Jones Jr., known for his elite athleticism, is also expected to play a role, while rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser will likely take a backseat — for now.

Clippers fans will get their first real look on October 21, when the regular season tips off.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.

Brook Lopez suggests he and Ivica Zubac might play in the same lineup: “I think we complement each other extremely well”

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