Brook Lopez sees a dream interior pairing with Zubac on the Clippers
After being a star in Brooklyn and winning the ring in Milwaukee, the center hopes to win the NBA again in LA
Brook Lopez has returned home, but not to join the team many thought. The California native, raised in North Hollywood, decided to sign with the Clippers, a team that—according to him—has radically changed from those days when he watched them grow without clear aspirations. Today, according to Lopez, the Los Angeles Clippers represent ambition, talent, and a real opportunity to win, and that's what convinced him.
The veteran left the Milwaukee Bucks after seven seasons and also turned down the option to return to the Lakers. He chose to sign with the Clippers for two years and 18 million dollars, motivated by the chance to share the locker room with figures like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and his former teammate Ivica Zubac, as well as playing under the guidance of Tyronn Lue. His relationship with Lawrence Frank, who was his coach at the Nets, also had an influence.
Although he has been a starter in almost all of the 1,105 regular-season games he has played in his career, Lopez seems willing to take on a different role in Los Angeles. Zubac has established himself as one of the best defensive centers in the league, so Brook could come off the bench. At 37 years old, he is still effective: last season he averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, with solid shooting percentages.
Far from seeing it as a disadvantage, Lopez believes he could share the court with Zubac at certain moments of the game. He thinks they complement each other well thanks to his ability to stretch the floor with outside shooting, while the Croatian excels in the paint. Defensively, he also envisions an intimidating duo due to their size and physical presence.
Another factor that influenced his decision was the Clippers' new home: the Intuit Dome. Lopez was impressed when he visited the arena last season with Milwaukee. Additionally, he received an immediate message from owner Steve Ballmer welcoming him. For Lopez, that winning energy is the key: "I'm here for that. Winning is what we all want, and it's going to be a lot of fun."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Brook Lopez ve una pareja interior de ensueño con Zubac en los Clippers