Ivica Zubac Praises Deni Avdija Ahead of Croatia-Israel World Cup Qualifier

Ivica Zubac, the Croatian center for the Indiana Pacers, spoke to Sport Channel ahead of Croatia's World Cup qualifying match against Israel on July 6, 2026. Following Israel's recent loss to Germany, Croatia is preparing for a challenging game, with Zubac acknowledging the strength and basketball IQ of the Israeli team. He described the upcoming match as a "very tough game" and a "big test" for Croatia, emphasizing the need for focus and effort to secure a win.

Zubac specifically highlighted Israeli player Deni Avdija, praising his development into one of the NBA's top players. He noted Avdija's significant improvement since his early days in Washington and Portland, particularly his physical growth and ability to leverage his strength in gameplay. Zubac called Avdija an "All-Star this season" and one of the best players in the league.

Additionally, Zubac mentioned the importance of paying special attention to Yam Madar, who has experience playing at the EuroLeague level and performed well against Germany. The Croatian center stressed that the match would not be easy and expressed hope to please the fans attending the game. The encounter is set to take place on Sunday as part of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.