What happened: Ben Sheppard said Ivica Zubac brings an element the group has not had and said teammates are eager to share the floor with him. The comments put an early spotlight on how Zubac fits into the rotation heading into the 2026-27 preseason.

Why it matters: It is another checkpoint for Zubac after he lost the rest of last season to a fractured rib in March. His role already carried weight after he landed on ESPN's Top 100 list last week, making his integration a meaningful preseason storyline.

What to watch: The next read comes when preseason rotations take shape and Zubac logs extended minutes with the first unit. Early camp sessions should offer a clearer look at how quickly that fit develops.