Latest news with #BrisbaneBullets
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bullets hit bullseye by signing NBL championship winner
The Brisbane Bullets have signed NBL championship winner Jaylen Adams in a huge boost for the side's Stu Lash era. Amid reports they will soon announce the arrival of Australian NBA player Alex Ducas, the Bullets unveiled former Sydney Kings combo guard Adams as their second import for the 2025/26 season. Adams won an NBL championship and the league's most valuable player award at the Kings in 2022, receiving plaudits for his versatility and composure down the stretch. The Maryland native returned to Sydney for the past two seasons but could not replicate those heroics for an underachieving Kings side, though he did have a 43-point game against Adelaide in January. Outside of his time in the NBL, Adams played 44 NBA games between 2018 and 2021 across stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks. The arrivals of high-profile Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis left the writing on the wall for Adams at the Kings in the off-season. He is the biggest signing yet for the Bullets under coach Lash, who will hope to snap a six-year play-offs drought as he replaces the ousted Justin Schueller at the helm. "I've seen what Brisbane is building and I want to be part of something special," Adams said. "This is a team and city ready to take the next step, and I'm coming in hungry to lead from the front, compete every night, and chase another title." Adams joins fellow American Casey Prather, big man Tyrell Harrison and veteran Mitch Norton as key components of the Bullets' roster for the upcoming season. The Bullets remain on the lookout for a top-quality back-court partner for Adams, and have been linked with Ducas, who was part of Oklahoma City's championship-winning roster last NBA season. A graduate of the same US college as Patty Mills and Jock Landale, Ducas played 21 games in his rookie NBA season for the Thunder, but did not feature in the post-season.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Warriors add 7-foot-3 center out of Australia in second round of new ESPN mock draft
Rocco Zikarsky may be one of the more misunderstood players in the 2025 NBA Draft. His stats for the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL may not necessarily jump out at you, but the film should.A 7'3" mobile big with long arms, great rim protecting instincts, and rim running ability… Although Wednesday marks the start of the 2025 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors will likely have to wait until Thursday to make their only selection of the draft. Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr will be on the clock in the second round with the No. 41 overall pick. Before the Warriors make their pick, last-minute mock drafts are being filed with different predictions for what player could come off the board at No. 41. In the latest mock draft from ESPN, the Warriors landed a 7-foot-3 center out of Australia. In Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo's new mock draft at ESPN, Australian center Rocco Zikarsky was penned to the Warriors at No. 41. Check out the full mock draft with predictions for both the first and second rounds of the 2025 NBA draft here. The 18-year-old big man has played 18 games for the Brisbane Bullets in the 2024-25 season, averaging 4.6 points on 52.4% shooting from the field to go along with 3.4 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game. In his second season in Brisbane, Zikarsky tallied double figures in four games, scoring a season-high 13 points twice. Rocco Zikarsky showing NBA teams how he moves at 7-foot-4 at the NBA draft combine pro lane agility drill Zikarsky signed with the Bullets in the NBL in 2023 at 16-years-old, becoming the youngest player in the Brisbane program history. 7-foot-4 Australian Rocco Zikarsky showing his outrageous 9'6 1/2 standing reach in the standing vertical jump test at the NBA draft combine Zikarsky could add to Golden State's young frontcourt with former second-round picks Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post.
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Flagg to fly as top pick while Aussies chase NBA dream
Teen giant Rocco Zikarsky and athletic forward Alex Toohey headline Australia's list of NBA draft hopefuls eager follow No.1 pick-in-waiting Cooper Flagg onto the world stage. Brisbane Bullets centre Zikarsky and Sydney Kings talent Toohey are projected second-round selections at the two-day event, starting on Thursday (AEST) in New York. The pair of NBL Next Stars were named in ESPN's top 100 players for the draft alongside Duke University guard Tyrese Proctor and Illawarra Hawks centre Lachlan Olbrich. University of Louisville sharpshooter Reyne Smith is also eligible and considered an outside chance. All are part of a strong contingent of international prospects, with about one-third of this year's selections likely to hail from outside the US. But for the first time in three years, the top selection won't be from France. Flagg was the best player in college basketball last season, leading Duke to the Final Four despite starting the campaign as a 17-year-old. The burgeoning superstar is set to land at the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No.1 pick, with Rutgers University duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey also in the mix as possible top-three selections. But this year's draft is considered wide open - and that's where the Australians come in. Toohey has impressed NBA scouts with his smarts and improved shooting, and could even be taken with a late first-round pick, which would earn him a guaranteed two-year contract. If so, the 201cm prospect would follow in the recent footsteps of countrymen Josh Giddey (No.6, 2021) and Dyson Daniels (No.8, 2022) as a first-round selection. Zikarsky had a quieter second campaign in the NBL that ended prematurely due to a knee injury. But the 18-year-old is seen as a sleeper and a chance to be taken in the second round, offering the rare and imposing height of 220cm. A possible defensive anchor, Zikarsky's height and standing reach topped all participants and turned heads at the draft combine. Olbrich's combine performance catapulted him up draft boards following a season when he was an integral part of Illawarra's NBL championship. Proctor, a point guard, is also rated a good chance of being selected after three seasons at one of the USA's most prominent basketball colleges. Smith has built his stocks around his elite shooting which could entice NBA teams, though the Tasmanian appears more likely to head to Europe. The Australian contingent of NBA draft hopefuls this year decreased when Alex Condon and Ben Henshall withdrew. Florida Gators power forward Condon will return for another college title push, while Perth Wildcats forward Henshall is yet to decide his future after earning plaudits in the NBL last season. Henshall's Wildcats teammate Izan Almansa - another NBL Next Star - is also in draft contention this year. The 20-year-old Spanish big man could add to the growing success of the Next Stars program, which has produced nine players drafted directly from the NBL to NBA - including six in the last five years. Former Next Stars AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr and Bobi Klintman were all picked up in last year's draft and have since made their NBA debuts. French forward Ousmane Dieng won the NBA title with Oklahoma City this week, three years after completing his Next Star stint with the New Zealand Breakers.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Flagg to fly as top pick while Aussies chase NBA dream
Teen giant Rocco Zikarsky and athletic forward Alex Toohey headline Australia's list of NBA draft hopefuls eager follow No.1 pick-in-waiting Cooper Flagg onto the world stage. Brisbane Bullets centre Zikarsky and Sydney Kings talent Toohey are projected second-round selections at the two-day event, starting on Thursday (AEST) in New York. The pair of NBL Next Stars were named in ESPN's top 100 players for the draft alongside Duke University guard Tyrese Proctor and Illawarra Hawks centre Lachlan Olbrich. University of Louisville sharpshooter Reyne Smith is also eligible and considered an outside chance. All are part of a strong contingent of international prospects, with about one-third of this year's selections likely to hail from outside the US. But for the first time in three years, the top selection won't be from France. Flagg was the best player in college basketball last season, leading Duke to the Final Four despite starting the campaign as a 17-year-old. The burgeoning superstar is set to land at the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No.1 pick, with Rutgers University duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey also in the mix as possible top-three selections. But this year's draft is considered wide open - and that's where the Australians come in. Toohey has impressed NBA scouts with his smarts and improved shooting, and could even be taken with a late first-round pick, which would earn him a guaranteed two-year contract. If so, the 201cm prospect would follow in the recent footsteps of countrymen Josh Giddey (No.6, 2021) and Dyson Daniels (No.8, 2022) as a first-round selection. Zikarsky had a quieter second campaign in the NBL that ended prematurely due to a knee injury. But the 18-year-old is seen as a sleeper and a chance to be taken in the second round, offering the rare and imposing height of 220cm. A possible defensive anchor, Zikarsky's height and standing reach topped all participants and turned heads at the draft combine. Olbrich's combine performance catapulted him up draft boards following a season when he was an integral part of Illawarra's NBL championship. Proctor, a point guard, is also rated a good chance of being selected after three seasons at one of the USA's most prominent basketball colleges. Smith has built his stocks around his elite shooting which could entice NBA teams, though the Tasmanian appears more likely to head to Europe. The Australian contingent of NBA draft hopefuls this year decreased when Alex Condon and Ben Henshall withdrew. Florida Gators power forward Condon will return for another college title push, while Perth Wildcats forward Henshall is yet to decide his future after earning plaudits in the NBL last season. Henshall's Wildcats teammate Izan Almansa - another NBL Next Star - is also in draft contention this year. The 20-year-old Spanish big man could add to the growing success of the Next Stars program, which has produced nine players drafted directly from the NBL to NBA - including six in the last five years. Former Next Stars AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr and Bobi Klintman were all picked up in last year's draft and have since made their NBA debuts. French forward Ousmane Dieng won the NBA title with Oklahoma City this week, three years after completing his Next Star stint with the New Zealand Breakers.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Millionaires in minutes: Your guide to the NBA draft and the Australians who could be picked
How much will they earn? The first pick is expected to earn about $US13.8 million (about $21.3 million) next season and $US14.5 million in season 2026-27. Subsequent picks will earn slightly less on a sliding scale down to pick 30 on $US2.7 million next season. Second-round picks get no such guarantees, but they present great value as clubs can choose to sign players to guaranteed, non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts. They can also 'stash' players (ie: tell them to play overseas until they are needed). Australian guard Johnny Furphy is a good example. Last year he missed out on the first round before the Indiana Pacers drafted him at pick 35 and then offered him a five-year deal, guaranteed for three seasons at a little under $US2 million per season. He's just played in the NBA finals. If a player is drafted, that team 'owns' his NBA rights, and he can only join whichever team has those rights, though they can be on-traded to other teams. Any Aussies in the running? There are no guarantees we will see an Australian follow in the recent footsteps of Josh Giddey or Dyson Daniels and be selected in the first round, but there are a stack of Aussies considered strong chances to be second-round picks. Brisbane Bullets centre Zikarsky, Sydney Kings forward Toohey, Duke University guard Tyrese Proctor and Illawarra Hawks centre Lachlan Olbrich were all listed in ESPN's top 100 players for the draft. At 220 centimetres (7′3) without shoes (7′4 with shoes), Zikarsky is the tallest player in the draft and has attracted strong interest as teams look to players who can, potentially, defend San Antonio superstar Victor Wembanyama who stands 222cm but has a 240cm (8′0) wingspan. Tasmanian sharpshooter Reyne Smith, who finished his US college career with the Louisville Cardinals this past season, is also eligible, although he could potentially miss out on being picked in the draft and head to Europe. Undrafted players could still make their way to the NBA if a team invites them to Summer League or training camp. Going undrafted means any team can sign a player. Matthew Dellavedova is one such Aussie who made Cleveland's roster after not being selected. Many outlets create mock drafts to try and predict where players will end up. To give you an idea how things could end up for the four Aussies, The Athletic 's Sam Vecenie had Proctor going to Brooklyn at pick 36, Toohey going to San Antonio at pick 38, Zikarsky going to Toronto at pick 39 and Olbrich to Utah at pick 53 in his mock draft on June 12. Any NBL Next Stars in the mix? The NBL also has Next Stars forward Izan Almansa in the draft while South East Melbourne Phoenix forward Malique Lewis withdrew from this year's draft and will return to the Australian league for next season in hope of boosting his position for 2026. Almansa, a Spanish international who played with Perth this past season is seen as being on the border between the first and second round. Toohey and Zikarsky are also NBL Next Stars. Why should we care about the Pelicans? The New Orleans Pelicans have picks seven and 23 in the first round and most Australians wouldn't pay attention unless they take a local player, but the Pelicans have a connection to Melbourne this year as they prepare to play two pre-season games at Rod Laver Arena, first against Melbourne United on October 3, then two days later against South East Melbourne. That will likely mean the players taken will make their first NBA appearances in those games. Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears shapes as a possible pick at seven for the Pelicans, although they could package both picks and try to trade up for a higher selection. Will there be trades? Oh, yes. The trades have already started, with Indiana and New Orleans swapping a 2026 first-round pick, which goes to the Pacers, for the rights to Australian guard Mojave King and pick 23 in the draft. Current players can also be traded on the night, as can this year's draft picks, future picks and players who were drafted earlier in the night. Silver will announce trades as they become official; some aren't made official by the NBA until after the draft but are reported during the night by broadcasters or journalists. Superstars Kevin Durant (Phoenix) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) have been mentioned as potentially being traded this off-season, though it looks less likely they will move right now. But nothing is certain when it comes to draft-night trades. There have been some big draft-night trades over the years, including Orlando and Golden State swapping Chris Webber and Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway during the 1993 draft. What has fashion got to do with the draft? Quite a bit, actually. Players who attend the first round generally wear suits, sometimes custom-made ones, to mark the occasion and decorate their first walk onto the NBA stage. The league also makes special NBA draft hats each year, which players receive after being selected. Those hats can be changed over or swapped if a trade is made. Some suits become famous or infamous, depending on their reception – LeBron James wore an all-white suit when he was drafted in 2002, while Samaki Walker's white hat and jacket in 1996, Drew Gooden's long jacket in 2003 and Jalen Rose's red pinstripes in 1995 still ring out. Loading Roy Ward's mock draft: The top five picks No.1 – Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) No.2 – Kon Knueppel (San Antonio Spurs) No.3 – Dylan Harper (Philadelphia 76ers) No.4 – Khaman Maluach (Charlotte Hornets) No.5 – Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz) ESPN will show the NBA draft first round on Thursday at 10am (AEST). The second round is Friday at 10am.
