Pacers' Zubac Out Indefinitely with Ankle Injury

Coach Rick Carlisle says newly acquired center will miss next two games

Feb. 10, 2026 at 11:07am

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The Indiana Pacers' newly acquired center Ivica Zubac will not play in the team's next two games against the Knicks and Nets due to a lingering left ankle sprain, according to head coach Rick Carlisle. Zubac, who was traded to the Pacers just before the NBA trade deadline, initially suffered the injury on December 20th and was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but has continued to experience discomfort and swelling in the ankle.

Why it matters

Zubac's injury is a setback for the Pacers, who were hoping the 25-year-old center would provide a boost to their frontcourt after trading away Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson. The team is currently in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, so Zubac's absence could impact their postseason positioning.

The details

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in a radio interview that Zubac will not play in the team's next two games against the Knicks and Nets. Carlisle noted that Zubac initially suffered the ankle injury on December 20th and was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but has continued to experience discomfort and swelling, leading the team to hold him out until he is closer to 100% healthy.

  • Zubac suffered the initial ankle injury on December 20th.
  • The Pacers acquired Zubac in a trade just before the NBA trade deadline on February 9th.

The players

Ivica Zubac

A 25-year-old center who was recently traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Indiana Pacers.

Rick Carlisle

The head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think he's going to play for a while. He's got a lingering ankle situation. He was injured Dec. 20 or something like that. Initially it was deemed to be a 4-6 week injury. This is a guy who has played 95% of his games since he's been in the NBA. He pushed to get back early. The team was struggling. There's just something in there still. There's some discomfort. There's some swelling. You admire the guy for slugging through. But at this point, it makes zero sense for him to be out on the floor in an NBA game if he's not feeling as close to 100% as possible. I don't know the timetable. He will not play in these two games and we'll see what's what when we come out of the break.”

— Rick Carlisle, Head Coach, Indiana Pacers (The Fan Morning Show)

What’s next

The Pacers will re-evaluate Zubac's status after their upcoming games against the Knicks and Nets during the NBA All-Star break.

The takeaway

Zubac's lingering ankle injury is a setback for the Pacers, who were hoping the center would provide a boost to their frontcourt after the trade. The team is prioritizing Zubac's full recovery over rushing him back, which could impact their playoff positioning in the tight Eastern Conference race.