Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle insisted that they would not rush newly acquired Ivica Zubac's debut for the franchise until his ankle injury was fully healed. 

The Pacers brought in Zubac, as well as Kobe Brown, in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers just before the NBA trade deadline. 

Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin and center Isaiah Jackson to Los Angeles along with a protected 2026 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round draft pick and an unprotected 2029 first-round draft pick.

Zubac missed his final game with the Clippers due to the birth of his first child, but he had played in nine consecutive games prior and has appeared in 43 contests this season.

The 28-year-old is averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game this term, ranking fifth in the NBA in rebounding, but has been nursing an ankle issue since December.

"It's kind of yo-yo'd a little bit," Carlisle said of Zubac's injury. My understanding from talking to him is that there's still something there that's not quite right.

"We're not going to put him out there until he's really ready. He's a guy that has played 94 or 95 percent of his games throughout his career. 

"I'm presuming that's because he's always raring to go through things. That's not going to be an option here."

From the West Coast to the Blue & Gold.

Welcome to Indiana, Ivica Zubac pic.twitter.com/L9XAuInbL2

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 6, 2026

Carlisle's comments came before he watched the Pacers lose 105-99 to the Milwaukee Bucks as their poor form in the NBA continued. 

Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 22 points and Pascal Siakam had 19, but that could not stop the Pacers slipping to 13-39, which is the second-worst record in the NBA and 10 games back for the last play-in spot.

The Pacers made the deal for Zubac to fill a long-term hole at center following the loss of Myles Turner in free agency this summer.

Zubac is still under contract through the 2027-28 season and will partner Tyrese Haliburton when he returns next season from a torn Achilles.

Carlisle, though, noted that Zubac's playing style would differ from Turner's, adding: "The two guys are different.

"We'll study it and figure out how it all fits together. It'll look a little different than when Myles was out there.

"I feel both those guys are top-10 centers in the NBA. So we're fortunate to have made the deal."