Predicting Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018-19 starting lineup with LeBron James

Center: Ivica Zubac

To round out the 2018-19 starting lineup, we’ve got one of the most intriguing young talents on this current Lakers roster.

When Los Angeles landed Ivica Zubac with the No. 32 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I don’t think anyone knew what to expect. The Croatian big man was seen as a huge sleeper with high upside, but no clear indication of when he’d be able to reach his potential. Well, it didn’t take long for the Lakers to see the type of impact he can have.

As a rookie, Zubac came on slowly, spending a majority of the season’s first half in the D-League. Then, after impressing with the D-Fenders and during practices, he got the opportunity to see more minutes with the Lakers. Before long, he had all of Laker Nation talking about him as the franchise’s next great big man.

Zubac will spend this next season continuing to develop and learn. The future already appears blindingly bright for the youngster, but he’s still got a ways to go before he reaches the heights many expect for him. When that time comes, though, it’s going to be glorious.

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The Lakers have done a great job of finding hidden gems during the draft, and Zubac is no exception. With the potential he flashed as a rookie, there’s no telling how high he’ll go before he finally hits his ceiling. Having stars like James and George around him will only help hasten the process.