Pacers Player Predictions Vol. 5: Entering the Ivica Zubac Era

From The Pacers Post Up by Brad and Ryan Knight, Bleav

June 8, 2026 · 47 min · Episode 399

About this episode

The episode discusses Ivica Zubac's potential impact on the Pacers as they enter the new season, alongside predictions and analysis of the team's dynamics.

It’s the fifth and final installment of our Player Prediction Series, and we’re wrapping things up with perhaps the biggest mystery on the Pacers roster: Ivica Zubac. After last season’s blockbuster trade, Pacers fans only got a brief glimpse of the team’s new center before a rib injury ended his season after just five games in a blue and gold uniform. We never got to see him share the floor with Tyrese Haliburton or Pascal Siakam, leaving plenty of questions heading into next season. How will Zubac’s numbers translate in Indiana? What impact can he have as the defensive anchor of this team? Will the Pacers finally solve their rebounding issues? And how does the offense evolve with a traditional center occupying the paint instead of the spacing provided by previous lineups? Ryan and Brad break down their statistical projections, expectations, and concerns for Indiana’s new man in the middle while discussing what success would look like in Year 1 of the Zubac era. Plus, we close out the show with a look ahead to Game 3 of the NBA Finals as the series shifts to Madison Square Garden.

People in this episode

Hosts: Brad Knight, Ryan Knight

Topics covered

player predictions
Pacers roster
Ivica Zubac
NBA Finals
defensive strategies
rebounding issues
offensive evolution

Keywords

Ivica Zubac
Pacers
NBA
player predictions
defensive anchor
rebounding
offensive strategies
Tyrese Haliburton
Pascal Siakam

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pacers, NBA

Places: Madison Square Garden