Brook Lopez sees ‘twin towers’ role with Ivica Zubac on Clippers
Las Vegas – The Clippers Brook Lopez team has grown up watching a young child in Southern California is no longer the same franchise.
These mowers aim to put a winning product on the field and set up the right talent to win matches – and that’s what sold Lopez on the signature with them.
“It’s crazy to see, but it’s very cool – to see the climb, the ascent,” said Lopez on Monday afternoon at a press conference a few hours before the Clippers and the Lakers were played in a NBA summer league match in Nevada Las Vegas. “I am a Cali boy. I grew up in the valley, in North Hollywood. Obviously, things were very different at the time and to see where the clippers came now, it’s just surprising, it’s beautiful. I am happy to be part of it and I hope I can help them even further. ”
Lopez decided not to return to the Bucks after seven seasons in Milwaukee and chose not to sign with the Lakers, joining the Clippers for a contract of $ 18 million over two years.
He liked the idea of playing with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, a former teammate when they played on the Lakers in 2017-2018, and for the coach of the Clippers Tyronn Lue. Lopez also had a link with Lawrence Frank, president of Clippers basketball operations. Frank was New Jersey’s Nets coach when Lopez was there.
“Looking at my options, I was just delighted that the mowers stood their hand and that I am one of them,” said Lopez. “They have been a big team for a long time now. They have a ton of great players, obviously the temple of fame, stars, big young players. My guy Zubi! And there is a great chance to win a championship here.”
The center of the Clippers Ivica Zubac, on the right, blocks a shot from the Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray goalkeeper in match 3 of the first round of the NBA qualifiers on April 26.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
During his career, Lopez was a departure center. He played 80 games last season with the Bucks, with an average of 31.8 minutes per game. And it was still productive at 37, with an average of 13 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks, while firing 50.9% of the soil and 37.3% of the beach of three points.
But Zubac has become one of the best NBA centers, even making the second entirely defensive team of the NBA.
On the 1,105 games of the regular season that Lopez played, he started in 1,064. With the mowers, however, he will probably leave the bench.
“I’m just trying to come and help the team win,” said Lopez. “Whatever this may look like, that’s what I’m here to do. Where my minutes can come from when I am on the field, the start of the game, in the middle of the game, end of the game, I try to be there to help my team win and beat the other team on the field.”
Because it can stretch the ground with its exterior shot, the 7-foot 1 inch Lopez can see a world in which it and 7-0 zubac are on the ground playing together.
“I think we are completing extremely well,” said Lopez. “Obviously, we will be very large. I think we will be very defensively, just dominating the painting, sealing the painting. And then offensively, we also complement ourselves there. I will spread the floor, give it the whole room to be unleashed.”
When the bucks visited the clippers last season, Lopez could see the intuit Dome.
He was impressed by the arena that the owner of the Clippers, Steve Ballmer, built and who also played a role in his decision.
“He immediately sent me a text, (saying) how excited it was to have me in the team,” said Lopez. “I told him the same thing. I am delighted to win and I think that’s why we are all here and it’s going to be so fun.”
