Sporting dream now real life for giant Aussie teen: ‘We're fired up'

Perth Now

2 days ago

Australian teenager Rocco Zikarsky will start his NBA career at Minnesota, having been recruited with pick No.45 in the draft.
Zikarsky, Australian basketball's next big thing who is 2.2 metres tall, was one of four players from the NBL's Next Star program to declare for the draft.
The 18-year-old, who hails from the Sunshine Coast and completed two NBL seasons with Brisbane, was overlooked on the first night of the event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
But Zikarsky was snapped up with the 15th pick of the second round, which Chicago had traded to by the Timberwolves.
Fellow Australians Tyrese Proctor, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich were drafted soon after. Zikarsky and his family were all dressed up for the draft. Credit: Supplied The 18-year-old Queenslander was the tallest player in this year's draft pool. Credit: Supplied
Proctor went to the Cleveland Cavaliers with pick No.49, while Sydney Kings talent Toohey will link up with superstar Steph Curry after being selected by Golden State with pick No.52.
Illawarra Hawk Olbrich (pick No.55) will join compatriot Josh Giddey at Chicago.
It is the first time since 1997 that four Australians have been taken in the same NBA draft (in 1997 it was Chris Anstey, Paul Rogers, Ben Pepper, and C.J. Bruton).
In this year's draft, Zikarsky was the tallest player and his new club thought he was a potential first-round pick.
Timberwolves president Tim Connelly was thrilled his club was able to land the young gun.
'We're super lucky to add Rocco Zikarsky, 18-year-old kid out of Brisbane, you know, seven foot three, no shoes, was a very good competitive swimmer, I think, near Olympic level prior to getting into basketball.,' he said.
'So we're fired up.
'I think he's certainly a long-term player, but a guy who trained locally, so he has an appreciation for Minnesota.
'We had him a much higher on the board. And again, it's fun to add young players with that energy, and we're fired up.'
Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence coach Robbie McKinlay oversaw the development of the young Australians stars.
'To be spoken about as a future NBA prospect, any player needs to have an elite combination of physical tools, skill, and basketball IQ — and all four tick those boxes,' McKinlay said.
'Rocco obviously has size, agility, and terrific defensive instincts and continues to expand an impressive offensive game.
'Tyrese has had an elite basketball education — from his local club at Sutherland to the NBA Global Academy and, of course, Duke University.
'(He's) a floor leader, elite shooter, and versatile defender ... and (already) shown he is a big-game player.
'Alex is such a versatile player at both ends of the floor and fits perfectly in the 'positionless' trend of the global game. You saw in the NBL with the Kings that he has the ability to make big plays and is an explosive athlete in the open court.
'And Lachlan showed in the Hawks' NBL title run that he is a fierce competitor with the ability to play inside and on the perimeter, and guard multiple positions.'
The 2025 quartet will report to NBA camps from October 1, joining a strong Australian contingent. Fourteen Australians were on NBA rosters this past season.