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Lakers second-round pick Ivica Zubac wants to prove he can stay in L.A.

Lakers draft pick Ivica Zubac speaks at a press conference in El Segundo on Tuesday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Ivica Zubac, who the Lakers selected with the 32nd pick in the NBA draft last month, tried to take everything in Tuesday at the Lakers practice facility — the trophies, banners, jerseys and then all of the questions.

It was understandably a bit overwhelming for the Bosnian-born 19-year-old.

“It’s crazy,” Zubac said after an introductory news conference. “I just realized I am now here….

“Before one month I was in Serbia playing against Serbian teams who are not really good, so to be in the best league in the world means so much to me.”

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Zubac said the Lakers and Celtics were the only NBA teams that people were familiar with where he grew up.

He became a fan of Kobe Bryant because of Bryant’s shoes, but continued to watch him because of his “will to win.”

Zubac, 7-feet-1 and 240 pounds, will participate in the Lakers’ summer league games in Las Vegas.

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A self-described old-school center, Zubac wants to prove that the Lakers selected the “right guy with the 32nd pick,” he said.

“I want to prove that I can fit in the system and that coach can count on me from the beginning of the season.”

lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

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