Most of the fanfare regarding the 2015 NBA Draft centered around LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram. The Los Angeles Lakers were fortunate to find themselves in a position to select the much-celebrated Ingram, bringing hope to fans of the struggling franchise. With the 32nd overall pick they took a young Croatian center named Ivica Zubac, a pick which received much less attention but could end up being extremely important.
Zubac, at just 19 years old, quickly earned fan-favorite status after his strong play in the Las Vegas Summer League. He has a soft touch around the rim and his long arms make him a solid rim-protector, which is something the Lakers sorely need.