7’1″ Croatian center Ivica Zubac was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 32nd overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft on Thursday night, but it might as well have been the first overall pick in his eyes.
The 19-year-old has been a diehard Lakers fan his entire life. The dude even owns an Andrew Bynum jersey and cried like a baby in April when Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in his final game.
Zubac could not be more excited – he’s been a HUGE Lakers fan for his entire life, told me he cried like a baby when Kobe scored 60. — Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) June 24, 2016
Lakers second round pick @ivicazubac said he owns Kobe, Pau, Bynum jerseys. The Bynum jersey is “in my room under some clothes”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 24, 2016
Lakers second round pick @ivicazubac said he stayed up until 430 am to watch Kobe’s last game even tho he had practice at 10 am — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 24, 2016
.@LakersReporter interviews @ivicazubac after being selected no. 32, in the 2016 NBA Draft.https://t.co/26N3bmlShp — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 24, 2016
Zubac has been considered a draft-and-stash candidate, but it sounds like he will get his Lakers career going right away, which certainly isn’t a surprise given how thrilled he is to be a member of the organization:
Ivica Zubac said he expects to play for the Lakers next season (as in, he’s not going to be a draft & stash guy). — Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) June 24, 2016
Mitch Kupchak says that Ivica Zubac wants to play in the NBA next year “and we wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 24, 2016
