LAS VEGAS — Ante Zizic is a 6-foot-11-inch, 255-pound force who figures only to get stronger and more powerful, because he is still just 20 years old. But the skills of the Celtics’ Croatian rookie have been a bit of a conundrum for his summer league teammates this month.

In today’s NBA, the trend is for big men to be fast-running, floor-spacing threats capable of attacking from all angles. Zizic, for now, is more of a throwback. Compared with others, he may appear almost clumsy, but it is more than he is just learning to mesh his game with a style that remains unfamiliar.


As Celtics coach Brad Stevens watched summer league games in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, he realized the other Celtics were not utilizing Zizic as they should. Yes, he was struggling a bit, sometimes appearing winded and overwhelmed by the pace. But his difficulties were being exacerbated by teammates who did not grasp his strengths. So Stevens explained his strengths to them more clearly.