Center Ivica Zubac had a surprisingly strong 2024-25 season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
It was his 10th season in the league and he turned 28 during the season, yet seemingly took major strides on the way to the best season of his career.
Zubac set career highs with 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
He also led the league in total rebounds.
However, his biggest impact for the Clippers came as a defender.
Zubac averaged 1.1 blocks per game, contributed an impressive 4.7 defensive win shares, and had a defensive rating of 107.8.
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac dunking the ball
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Now he has been rewarded for his impressive defensive performance.
The NBA announced that Zubac earned a spot on the league's All-Defensive Second Team.
Zubac had gotten close on a pair of awards before this.
He finished sixth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting and was second in the Most Improved Player voting behind only Dyson Daniels.
Zubac anchored a Clippers defense that was one of the league's best during the 2024-25 season. They allowed the NBA's fourth-least points over the course of the year, giving up just 108.2 points per game.
He is now the third player from this past season's Clippers roster who has earned a spot on an All-Defensive team, with Kawhi Leonard having previously done it for the Clippers and Ben Simmons having achieved the fear before joining the team.
Zubac will be a key piece if the Clippers are going to remain one of the league's best defenses for the 2025-26 season.