LAS VEGAS — The Clippers group Brook Lopez grew up watching as a younger child in Southern California is just not that very same franchise anymore.
These Clippers are about placing a successful product on the court docket and about placing collectively the best expertise to win video games — and that’s what bought Lopez on signing with them.
Lopez determined to not return to the Bucks after seven seasons in Milwaukee and opted to not signal with the Lakers, becoming a member of the Clippers on a two-year, $18-million deal.
He favored the concept of enjoying with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, a former teammate once they performed on the Lakers in 2017-18, and for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. Lopez additionally had a reference to Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations. Frank was the coach of the New Jersey Nets when Lopez was there.
“Looking at my options, I was just thrilled the Clippers reached out and were one of them,” Lopez mentioned. “They’ve been a great team for quite a while now. They have a ton of great players, obviously Hall of Famers, All-Stars, great young players. My guy Zubi! And there is a great chance to win a championship here.”
Clippers middle Ivica Zubac, proper, blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in Recreation 3 of the primary spherical of the NBA playoffs on April 26.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Instances)
Over the course of his profession, Lopez has been a beginning middle. He performed in 80 video games final season with the Bucks, averaging 31.8 minutes per recreation. And he was nonetheless productive at 37, averaging 13 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks, whereas taking pictures 50.9% from the ground and 37.3% from three-point vary.
However Zubac has emerged as one of many prime facilities within the NBA, even making the NBA’s All-Defensive second group.
Out of the 1,105 regular-season video games Lopez has performed, he has began in 1,064. With the Clippers, nevertheless, he’ll possible come off the bench.
“I’m just trying to come in and help the team win,” Lopez mentioned. “Whatever that may look like, that’s what I’m here to do. Wherever my minutes may come from when I’m on the court, the beginning of the game, middle of the game, end of the game, I’m trying to be out there trying to help my team win and beat the other team on the court.”
As a result of he can stretch the ground along with his exterior taking pictures, the 7-foot-1 Lopez can see a world by which he and 7-0 Zubac are on the court docket enjoying collectively.
“I think we complement each other extremely well,” Lopez mentioned. “Obviously, we’ll be very big. I think we’ll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off. And then offensively, we complement each other there as well. I’ll spread the floor for him, give him all the room in the paint to go wild.”
When the Bucks visited the Clippers final season, Lopez acquired to see the Intuit Dome.
He was impressed by the sector that Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer constructed and that additionally performed a job in his choice.
“He texted me right away, (saying) how excited he was to have me on the team,” Lopez mentioned. “I told him the same thing back. I’m excited to win and I think that’s what we’re all here for and it’s going to be so much fun.”
