The Clippers star leads the players making the biggest jumps on ClutchPoints’ NBA Top 100 list

No player on ClutchPoints’ NBA Top 100 has taken a bigger step than Los Angeles Clippers‘ Ivica Zubac this season. Zubac of the Clippers moved from unranked to 39th place after a breakout 2024-25 season, when he posted career highs in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6), assists (2.7) and steals (0.7) per game.

Zubac’s big jump on ClutchPoints’ NBA Top 100 is bigger than Tyler Hero of the Miami Heat, who jumped from 73rd to 43rd. Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets was also unranked last season and made the third-highest jump to No. 44. Number 54 after not being ranked in last year’s list.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves made the fifth-biggest jump from No. 94 to No. 60 as the Lakers look to make a deep playoff run in 2026. ClutchPoints’ NBA Top 100 Rankings players ahead of the upcoming regular season.

Brian Windhorst’s Edge of the Tooth prediction for the Clippers’ preseason

Clippers center Ivica Zubac’s impressive season did not go unnoticed, as he earned second-team All-Defensive honors in 2024-25. Although he averaged 16.8 points with 62.8% shooting and 12.6 rebounds, Zubac also recorded 1.1 blocks per game last season. His role has been defined as the Clippers’ defensive anchor for head coach Tyronn Lue. However, it’s a role that has evolved ahead of the upcoming season.

Zubac will take over increased role as part of the Clippers’ 2025-26 offensive attack, which Brian Windhorst said will lead to Zubac’s first All-NBA selection, according to ESPN’s Hoop Collective.

“I’ll tell you something else. Ivica Zubac will make the All-NBA,” Windhorst said. “Yes, it is. Tooth looks great.”

Windhorst is confident the 10-year-old’s increased role as a center in the Clippers’ offense will lead to his breakout season.

“I’m telling you,” Windhorst added. “They put things through it.”

Zubac never made an All-Star selection during his decade-long NBA career. After earning the starting job with the Clippers in 2020-21, Zubac evolved into a center averaging a double-double (16.8 points/12.6 rebounds). He is also one of the NBA’s better defensive centers, earning his first selection to the All-Defensive Team.

The Clippers will be looking to make a deep playoff run this upcoming season, and Zubac will play a big part in that.