Ivica Zubac Clippers Contract Extended for Another 3 Years
June 29, 2022 - The latest news about Croats in the NBA - Ivica Zubac Clippers contract has been extended until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Croatia national team player Ivica Zubac has agreed to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for another three years, for which he will receive $33 million, reports ESPN and basketball agents Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman from Excel Sports.
In order for him to get $33 million in the next three seasons, the Clippers will not activate the club option for the last season of the current contract, which Zubac signed in 2019 and which would bring him $7.5 million, and then sign a new contract that will tie him to the LA team until the end of the 2024/25 season. Zubac already has the longest tenure in the Clippers of all the players from the current roster, and if he stays at the club until the end of the new contract, he will have six and a half seasons as a Clippers player.
With this deal, the Clippers prevented the possibility of Zubac becoming a free agent next summer (after his old contract expires) and signing wherever he wants, and at the same time, they solved the issue of the first center for the near future for a solid price. Zubac, on the other hand, also received security for the next period in his career, and at the same time, he was rewarded with approximately a $4 million increase compared to his previous annual salary.
Zubac joined the team in February 2019, in an exchange with the LA Lakers, where he was drafted in 2016 as the 32nd pick. Zubac, who is only 25, has mostly played in the starting lineup since coming to the Clippers from the LA Lakers in 2019. In four seasons with the Clippers, Zubac played in the first team in 204 of 246 games.
Behind him is the most productive season in the NBA in which he scored 10.3 points per game with an average of 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1 block. He also had a shooting percentage above 61 percent for the third year in a row. This season is the seventh in the NBA for Zubac.
Zubac is the second Clippers player to sign an extension thus joining Robert Covington. The LA team hopes to keep veteran Nicolas Batum and reserve center Isaiah Hartenstein, but both are free agents this summer. Clearly, the biggest win for the team will be healthy Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Norman Powell because with them they can attack the title.
Source: Sportske Novosti
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Bojan Bogdanović Makes Jazz Franchise History with Record 11 Threes Scored in Single Game!
March 7, 2022 - Bojan Bogdanović recorded 11 threes in Utah's win against Oklahoma, entering Jazz franchise history!
Bojan Bogdanovć recorded the best shooting game of his career, scoring 11 three-pointers for a spot in the Jazz franchise and NBA history!
In the 116:103 Utah Jazz victory in Oklahoma City, the Croatian ace scored 35 points, of which 33 were three-pointers, reports Index.hr.
He shot for two points and missed only once in the entire game. He hit two free throws but scored everything else from a distance - 11 threes from 18 attempts. He became the first player in NBA history to score 11 (or more) threes without a single basket for two.
Bogdanović set his personal record and the Utah Jazz record, already in the ninth three-pointer of the game. By the end, he became only the 14th player in history with at least 11 three-pointers scored in a game. The record-holder is Klay Thompson with 14, Zach LaVine and Stephen Curry with 13 each, and Curry, Kobe Bryant, and Donyell Marshall with 12 three-pointers.
This is the 27th time in NBA history that someone has scored 11 three-pointers in a game. Curry has done it 12 times, while Thompson and Damian Lillard are the only players to have done it twice. No one but Bojan has done it in 2022.
After the last three-pointer, which broke the game with 43 seconds to go and increased Jazz's advantage from five points to eight, he kept his hand outstretched in the shooting position and waved to the home crowd, returning to the defense. It has become his practice every time he scores a decisive three-pointer.
Despite this offensive explosion, Bogdanović did not improve his season point record. He played the same team last season with 48 points, which is his career record.
Career-high, franchise record, and NBA record???#WalkoffInterview | @lhmauto pic.twitter.com/7qxPXRkKMq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 7, 2022
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points and ten assists, Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, and Rudy Gobert scored 12 points and 17 rebounds to stand out in the Jazz victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best for the host with 33 points.
The second Croatian basketball player in the NBA league did not have a successful evening. Ivica Zubac remained on four points (2/5 field goals), nine rebounds, and three turnovers in an unexpected and challenging home defeat to the New York Knicks 116:93.
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Bojan Bogdanović Contributes to Utah Jazz NBA 3-Pointer Record, Zubac Secures Clippers Win
December 9, 2021 - Utah Jazz is the first team in NBA history to score 20 or more three-pointers in three consecutive games, and score 72 three-pointers in a three-game span, setting a new NBA 3-pointer record.
Utah Jazz and LA Clippers registered new victories in the NBA, and Croatian basketball players Bojan Bogdanović and Ivica Zubac registered notable appearances for their teams. And new NBA records were broken, reports T.portal.
Utah defeated Minnesota 136:104 away, with only a point advantage at halftime (60:59). But Minnesota was wholly outplayed by Utah as the game went on. In the third quarter, Utah was up by 13 points, and in the last quarter, up by 18, and scored 76 points in the second half.
Bojan Bogdanović was the second top scorer for Utah. Donovan Mitchell was the best (36 points, 14/23 field goals), while the Croatian basketball player scored 21 points in 28 minutes. He also had five rebounds and 8/14 field goals, and 4/9 three-pointers. He also hit one free throw.
Bogdanović praised Mitchell, who scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games.
"He's full of confidence. We all know how good he is and who he is. The game is at a very high level for the whole season," said Bogdanović.
Utah hit 25/54 for three-pointers, which placed them in the NBA history books.
"This was a good win for us. We played away, and we’re all trying to see where we are right now with a desire to keep growing. And tomorrow, we will have another big game," said Mitchell after the game.
This Utah Jazz team is thus the first in NBA history to score 20 or more three-pointers in three consecutive games, and the best Croatian basketball player, Bojan Bogdanović, significantly contributed to this record, currently averaging 16.8 points from three-pointers or 40.8% (throwing in 2.5 three-pointers on the average per game).
But that isn't the only record they set.
Utah's 72 three-pointers are the most in a three-game span, breaking the old record of 67 set by Milwaukee and Houston (twice).
The Clippers defeated Boston 114:111 in a tense game at home. A second and a half before the end, Croatian center Ivica Zubac hit both free throws to confirm the Clippers victory.
The Clippers were up 12 points at halftime, but Boston eventually caught up. Brandon Boston jr. scored 27 points for the Clippers, while Reggie Jackson added 17 with seven assists.
Zubac played 32 minutes and achieved a double-double of 10 points and ten rebounds. He also had four blocks and 3/4 field goals, with 4/4 from the free-throw line. He also had one assist, four turnovers and one steal.
Jayson Tatum was the Celtics' first name with 29 points and ten rebounds.
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Bojan Bogdanović Second Croat to Cross NBA 8,000-Point Mark!
November 14, 2021 - While his Utah Jazz couldn't pull out a win against the Miami Heat on Saturday night, Bojan Bogdanović had something to celebrate. He became only the second Croat to reach the NBA 8,000-point mark!
Bojan Bogdanović played his best game of the season, scoring 26 points (field goals 8-19, three-pointers 6-13) with 6 rebounds and 3 assists, but the Utah Jazz failed to beat Miami (105:111). The Utah Jazz is currently in crisis, as they have only one win in their last five games. This was also their second home defeat in a row. Miami played without Butler but still celebrated on the wings of young defenders Herro (27 points) and Robinson (22), with Kyle Lowry scoring 21 points.
Bogdanović was the top scorer for the Jazz, ahead of Jordan Clarkson (25) and Donovan Mitchell (22).
This is the fourth defeat in five games for Utah. On the other hand, Heat achieved the first victory from the fourth attempt on the current tour of the West. Both teams are now at 8-5.
But there is some good news to the story. Not only was this Bojan's best game this season, but the Croatian basketballer became only the second Croatian to cross the 8,000-point mark in the NBA.!
In this game, Bogdanović needed 10 points to break the 8,000 mark in his career, and he crossed it in the last quarter, nailing 19 of his 26 points then. Of Croatian basketball players, only Toni Kukoč scored more (9810), and at this pace, Babo should overtake him next season.
Furthermore, the Los Angeles Clippers and Ivica Zubac continued with great games. On Saturday night, they defeated Minnesota 129:102, and the Croatian center completely outplayed Towns, who remained at only 8 points. Zubac scored 10 points but also 12 rebounds in 22 minutes on the court. Thus, the Clippers are currently experiencing an exciting winning streak.
Paul George with 23 points and Reggie Jackson with 21 led the Clippers to their eighth win in 12 games, and Anthony Edwards with 21 points was the Wolves' top scorer.
Source: Index.hr
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Croats in NBA: Ivica Zubac Double-Double Confirms Game of Season for LA Clippers
November 6, 2021 - An Ivica Zubac double-double gives the Croatian basketball star his best game of the season for the LA Clippers so far.
The LA Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-84 last on Friday night, and Croatian basketball player Ivica Zubac contributed to his team's victory with a double-double, reports
Zubac scored 14 points (field goals 5/7), 14 rebounds, two steals, and one block in 30:54 minutes spent on the court. Paul George scored 21 points with 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Reggie Jackson 20 points.
For Minnesota, which recorded their fourth defeat in a row, the best was Karl-Anthony Towns with 20 points and eight rebounds, and Malik Beasley added 18 points.
After falling behind in the first half, the Clippers stopped Minnesota at just 27 points with a great second half.
“I think it could be our identity this year, the defensive team. We know that without Kawhi Leonard it will be harder to win, but we can play good defense and run more, create more open shots to have a better chance of winning," Zubac said after the game.
"Before the game, I told him to go for jumps more energetically, to grab the ball tighter, and after the game, I told him that now there is no going back to the old way," said Paul George about the Croatia national team player.
The New York Knicks also outscored the Milwaukee Bucks 113-98 away, although they were 21 points behind in the second quarter. Julius Randle was the top scorer with 32 points with 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Derrick Rose added 23 points for New York, beating the Bucks 94-60 in the final three quarters, with eight rebounds and four assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 25 steals and seven rebounds.
The Brooklyn Nets reached their fourth straight win by beating the Detroit Pistons 96-90, and Kevin Durant scored 29 points with 10 rebounds and five assists for the win.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and five rebounds for the Nets, and James Harden added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and as many assists.
The Golden State Warriors were better than the New Orleans Pelicans at home (126-85), bringing them to seven wins in their last eight games.
Jordan Poole was the most efficient player on the winning team with 26 points, while Stephen Curry contributed to the victory with 19 points.
The Cleveland Cavaliers outscored the Toronto Raptors 102-101 away, ending the Canadian team's five-game winning streak, with Darius Garland securing two free throws 4.8 seconds before the end.
The Washington Wizards were better than the Memphis Grizzlies, playing 115-87 at home, with seven home team players recording a double-double performance.
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Orlando Magic 102-89, the Portland Trail Blazers won 110-106 against the Indiana Pacers, while the Sacramento Kings outscored the Charlotte Hornets 140-110.
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Zubac and Bogdanović Named in Sports Illustrated Top 100 NBA Players of 2022
September 21, 2021 - Ivica Zubac and Bojan Bogdanović have been named in the Sports Illustrated Top 100 NBA players of 2022.
The American magazine ranks the top 100 NBA basketball players every year before the new season. The popular sports magazine started this year's countdown and published the list from 51st to 100th place, where the names of two Croatian basketballers were found.
For the first time in his career, Ivica Zubac entered Sports Illustrated's Top 100, in 99th place.
"Outside of a three-point shot, Zubac checks every box necessary for a modern big. On offense, he's an expert offensive rebounder and a sturdy screener with soft hands as a roll man. On defense, he's smart as a rotating big and he won’t get bullied by the game’s biggest behemoths. Zubac is perhaps the least flashy player on our Top 100 list, but don’t let that detract from his value in Los Angeles," writes Michael Shapiro of the LA Clippers player.
A year ago, after the best season of his career, Bojan Bogdanović was close to the top 50, in 56th place, but now he is ranked as 74th this season.
In May of 2020, season-ending surgery on Bogdanovic’s right wrist knocked the veteran forward out for Utah’s bubble run, proving a major loss for the Jazz. Last season, Bogdanovic returned and further proved his worth, serving as both a reliable shooter and more-than-capable on-ball creator. Toward the end of the regular season when Donovan Mitchell went down with an ankle injury, Bogdanovic thrived, averaging 22.8 points over the regular season’s final 16 games," writes BP.
The remaining two Croats in the NBA were not on the list. Dario Šarić will miss most, if not the entire Phoenix Suns season due to an operation, and Luka Šamanić has yet to confirm his place in the rotation of the San Antonio Spurs.
Among the players from the Sports Illustrated region, Serbian defender Bogdan Bogdanović was ranked 64th and Jusuf Nurkić, the center from BiH who plays for Portland 65th.
Luka Dončić and MVP Nikola Jokić will certainly be among the top 10, and whether SI placed them in the Top 5 and in which exact positions they see them, we will find out in a few days, reports Index.hr.
You can see the list so far HERE.
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Highlights of the Week: 5 Big Events in Croatia from June 28-July 4
June 3, 2021 - TCN's highlights of the week. A look at the events in Croatia from June 28 through the selection of TCN's reporter Ivor Kruljac.
EURO 2020 elimination and Dario Šarić in the NBA finals. Zagreb witnessing a series of arrests related to corruption of Milan Bandić's reign and explosive device planted in Split. In the midst of it all, is COVID-19 vaccination on its way to becoming obligatory and not optional? You may prefer the good news or the bad news, but here is both, as another week in Croatia comes to an end.
© Marin Tironi / PIXSELL
Highlights of the week: Uskok arresting Zagreb entrepreneurs and associates of former mayor Milan Bandić
The Office of Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation by members of the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor and the Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) started at the city administration offices at 6 am on Wednesday.
As TCN wrote, several people were arrested on suspicion of corruption, including the director-general of the HRT public broadcaster, Kazimir Bačić, Andrea Šulentić, and Ana Stavljenić-Rukavina. Both Šulentić and Rukavina were directors in Zagreb administration offices and close associates of former mayor Milan bandić. At the same time, details Bandić's heavy corruption (suspected and known publicly earlier) came to light.
© Goran Stanzl / PIXSELL
Highlights of the week: Croatia eliminated from Euro 2020 after losing to Spain
Croatia and Spain met in Copenhagen on Monday for their EURO 2020 round of 16 match. It was a decent effort from Croatia, but not enough. Despite the Spain own goal in the 20th minute, the distraction as Rebić went to change his boots saw Spain even the score. The score towards the end of regular time went to 3:1 for Spain, but Croatia managed to lower to 3:2 and finally, in the added time, Pašalić scored for 3:3.
But, the euphoria was ruined for Croatia as in extra time, Morata earned Spain 4:3, and by 103rd minute, the total and final score was 5:3 for Spain. It was one of the more intense games on Euro so far as both teams show incredible spirit and persistence.
© Dusko Jaramaz / PIXSELL
Highlights of the week: Opposition parties against vaccination being required for job-keeping payments
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) called on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday not to make vaccination a requirement for job-keeping payments, while the Most party said business owners were being blackmailed into vaccination.
As TCN reported, SDP leader Peđa Grbin elaborated his dissatisfaction via social networks.
"In Croatia, mandatory vaccination is possible, but the obligation is first established under the law on the protection of the population and then regulated and worked out under Immunisation Rules and the Mandatory Vaccination Programme. The obligation of vaccination can't be imposed in another way, notably not by linking support for entrepreneurs with vaccination," SDP president Grbin posted on Facebook.
"Most is against entrepreneurs, who are being forced into vaccination through blackmail, saving the government's mindless epidemic policy", stated the Most party on its official Twitter account. They added that Croatia was stuck with over 300,000 surplus vaccines because of poor government moves and communication omissions.
© Hrvoje Jelavic / PIXSELL
Highlights of the week: Dario Šarić becomes 5th Croatian basketballer in the NBA finals
Šibenik's Dario Šarić is the 5th Croatian basketball player to reach the NBA finals! As TCN wrote, Šarić became only the fifth Croatian basketball player in the NBA league finals, joining the company of Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Žan Tabak, and Ante Žižić. Šarić plays for Phoenix Suns. They topped the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the NBA Western Conference Finals. Apart from basketball, Šarić also likes to enjoy sipping coffee on Šibenik cafe terraces, as portrayed in the photo.
© Milan Sabic / PIXSELL
Highlights of the week: Bomb planted in Split. One person injured
In the night from Thursday to Friday, an unknown person placed an explosive device underneath a vehicle. The explosion damaged six cars, and one person required medical attention. The investigation is ongoing since Friday morning.
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Šibenik's Dario Šarić Becomes 5th Croatian Basketballer in the NBA Finals!
July 1, 2021 - Šibenik's Dario Šarić is the 5th Croatian basketball player to reach the NBA finals!
Dario Šarić became only the fifth Croatian basketball player in the NBA league finals. Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Žan Tabak and Ante Žižić succeeded before him, reports Šibenik.in.
Šarić reached the finals with the Phoenix Suns, who topped the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
It will be the third final for the Suns, who have lost the previous two they participated in. They last played in the finals in 1993, when they were led by Charles Barkley, but lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.
Before that, they lost to the Boston Celtics in 1976, also in six games.
The first Croatian basketball player to reach the NBA Finals was Dražen Petrović in 1990 with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, Petrović did not play next to Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler, and Portland lost to the Detroit Pistons 1-4 in the finals.
After Dražen, Jean Tabak reached the final in the Houston jersey in 1995 and won. However, Tabak didn’t have many minutes, as he was a replacement for Hakeem Olajuwon. Houston beat Orlando 4-0 in the final.
Interestingly, Tabak is the second European basketball player ever to win an NBA ring. Only a season before him, Slovak Richard Petruška won the title, also in the Houston jersey. Tabak also made it to the finals with the Indiana Pacers in 2000 when the LA Lakers defeated them.
Toni Kukoč played an important role with the Chicago Bulls, winning three consecutive championship titles (1996-1998). In the first final, the Bulls defeated Seattle and the Utah Jazz in the next two seasons.
Ante Žižić also played in the NBA league finals with Cleveland in 2018, but the Golden State Warriors won 4-0.
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Remembering Dražen Petrović 28 Years Later
June 7, 2021 - Remembering Dražen Petrović, who died 28 years ago today.
On this day, 28 years ago, Dražen Petrović, a member of the Croatia basketball team and one of the best Croatian athletes of all time, was killed in a car accident on the motorway near the German city of Ingolstadt.
He was a basketball player and a role model, the Mozart of sports, but tragically died at the age of 29 during the peak of his playing career.
Dražen played his last match against Slovenia in the qualifications for the European Championship in Wroclaw. It was June 5, 1993. The Croatia national team returned from Poland by plane, but Dražen set off in a car with his girlfriend behind the wheel. He has no idea it would be his last drive.
Dražen was born on October 22, 1964, in Šibenik. His love for basketball has been with him since he was a small child. His exceptional perseverance and dedication to daily training with undeniable talent quickly made him one of the best in all age groups.
At the age of sixteen, he joined the Šibenik first team. He brought his hometown to the title of Yugoslav champion in 1983.
Cibona and Real Madrid were unreachable to all European clubs when Dražen played in their ranks. Having achieved everything in Europe, he went to the strongest league in the world - the NBA.
Although he sat more than played for the first season due to politics inside Portland, he showed his phenomenal talent two years later with the New Jersey Nets. Not only was he the team’s best shooter in 1992 (especially at three-pointers), but also the best European to have played in the NBA league so far.
That year, Dražen led the Croatia national team to its greatest success, silver at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, in the final clash with the only real Dream Team played by the best representatives of the NBA and some of the best basketball players in history - Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, and others.
As a player, he received the Franjo Bučar State Award for Sports in 1992, and posthumously, this time for his life's work, he received the same award in 2002.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Source: HRT
Best Game Ever for Bojan Bogdanović with 48 Points in Utah's Victory!
May 8, 2021 - It was the best game ever for Bojan Bogdanović, who scored 48 points against Denver on Friday night!
Jutarnji List reports that Bojan Bogdanović played the best game of his career last night. In Utah's victory against Denver (127:120), the Croatian basketball player scored 48 points (career record), and with a phenomenal 70% shooting percentage, he scored 16 out of 23 attempts. Bojan also hit 8 of 11 three-pointers and all eight free throws.
In addition, he had 8 rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Bogdanović's performance carries additional weight because, thanks to him, Utah has remained the leading team in the West and is now in a great spot for the playoffs.
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— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 8, 2021
48 points, 8 threes, 8 rebounds, 8/8 ft, 2 assists, 2 steals | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/82bCKckGke
Bojan overshadowed Nikola Jokić, convincingly the first candidate for MVP of the player of the season. The Serbian center also had a great evening, scoring 24 points, to which he added 13 assists and 9 rebounds. But all that was not enough to surpass Bogdanović.
Bojan has been playing the best basketball of his career in recent weeks. He has scored at least 22 points in his last five games, with a shooting percentage above 54 percent. The average in those five games is a fantastic 30.6 points, and he hit 54 of 86 attempts, which is a phenomenal 63 percent.
Utah has been playing without its best player Donovan Mitchell for some time, and Bojan's role in the team has changed with his position. The more he is with the ball, the more he gets under the basket, which obviously suits him better than the role of a classic shooter.
In the victory against Denver, Bogdanović had the best teammates in Clarkson (21 points), Gobert (14), and Niang (13).
Phoenix was also successful, beating New York 128:105. The Suns were led by Ayton with 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Dario Saric had another miserable evening. He only played five minutes in which he only managed to shoot once.
The Lakers stumbled once again, this time in Portland (106:101), with whom they now share sixth place in the West. Seventh leads to the play-in, and the Lakers look awful.
Results:Philadelphia - New Orleans 109: 107, Chicago - Boston 121: 99, Charlotte - Orlando 122: 112, Miami - Minnesota 121: 112, Milwaukee - Houston 141: 133, Dallas - Cleveland 110: 90, Portland - LA Lakers 106: 101, Sacramento - San Antonio 104: 113, Utah - Denver 127: 120, Phoenix - New York 128: 105.
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