Ivica Zubac Included in Croatia's Preliminary Squad

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Fiba World Basketball

Croatia's Basketball Team Prepares for World Cup Qualifiers with NBA's Zubats

In Croatia, Ivica Zubac has been named in the 18-player preliminary squad for the upcoming European World Cup qualifiers. The 29-year-old center's NBA season ended prematurely due to a rib injury in March, limiting him to only five games with the Indiana Pacers after his trade from the LA Clippers. Zubac was instrumental in leading Croatia to the finals of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament held in Greece two years ago, where they were narrowly defeated by the hosts.

Zubac will be joined by four teammates from that successful campaign: center Danko Brankovic, forwards Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja, and playmaker Jalen Smith. Already having secured a spot in the second round with a 3-1 record, Croatia leads Group E but is aiming for a strong performance against Cyprus and Israel to compensate for missing the 2023 World Cup.