Latest news with #RoccoZikarsky
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No. 45 pick Rocco Zikarsky signs two-way contract with Timberwolves
Australian center Rocco Zikarsky, No. 45 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, the team announced. Zikarsky averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field last season with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL. He was limited to 20 games due to a knee injury after playing 29 games in the season prior with the Bullets because of an ankle injury. The 7-footer was part of the Next Stars program, a plan introduced by the NBL to give top prospects a path to play professionally. He was among several prospects in the program last season, joining the likes of Izan Almansa, Lachlan Olbrich and Alex Toohey. Prior to spending two seasons with the Bullets, Zikarsky attended the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia. He is the second NBA Academy alumnus to be selected in the draft this year (Khaman Maluach) and the 13th to be drafted or sign with a team. The soon-to-be 19-year-old will split his time next season between the NBA and the Iowa Wolves in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn $636,435, equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service. Zikarsky is expected to play in the NBA Summer League with the Timberwolves, beginning on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans (3:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Australian Center
After taking French big man Joan Beringer with the 17th overall pick during the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, president Tim Connelly became quite the auctioneer. Minnesota came into Thursday night with the first overall pick in the second round. They opted to trade that pick with the Phoenix Suns, who selected St. Joseph's forward Rasheer Flemming. Then while on the clock at 35 overall, the Timberwolves traded the pick to the Lakers. Los Angeles grabbed Arkansas forward Adou Theiro. Advertisement Now armed with a pair of future second round picks and some extra cash, Connelly decided to stick and pick at the 45th overall selection. The MN Timberwolves grabbed Australian center Rocco Zikarsky. Related Headlines Australian center Rocco Zikarsky to MN Timberwolves After taking 7'0″ center Joan Beringer on Wednesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves stayed overseas and grabbed Rocco Zikarski at 45th overall. Like Beringer, Zikarski is just 18 years old. He has four inches on his new teammate at 7'4″ and his 9'7″ standing reach is truly insane. ESPN's Jonathan Givony broke down the pick for Minnesota. 'Zikarsky didn't have as productive a second season in the NBL as most scouts had hoped he would. Although he was a consistent factor on the offensive glass, he struggled to score efficiently, missing layups and struggling to make free throws, which hindered some of the optimism surrounding his floor-stretching potential. His ability to effect shots with his exceptional length is appealing, but he is still evolving as a rim protector when he isn't parked under the rim. Regardless, his size and youth make him an intriguing bet for a team that believes in its player development infrastructure, helping the game slow down for him while his frame continues to mature.' Jonathan Givony – ESPN Given the decision to move back ten spots just for money, it's clear the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't sure if they have a roster spot for their second round pick. Given his age, and raw overall ability, it doesn't seem like Zikarsky will see too much time in the NBA this season. The deal is also reportedly a two-way contract. If Zikarsky can develop similarly to Beringer the Minnesota Timberwolves will have a ridiculous height advantage in the paint for years to come. Rudy Gobert is on contract for a few more years, but the pair of 18 year olds figure to be shot-swatters if things work out for them. Advertisement The Timberwolves will now turn to free agency when looking for a point guard. Chris Finch still needs someone to facilitate the offense and take pressure off the aging Mike Conley. Related Headlines
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Timberwolves' Rookies Are Excited To Play For The Team
The Timberwolves' Rookies Are Excited To Play For The Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected two promising big men in the 2025 NBA Draft, Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky. They spoke to the media in their introductory press conference on Monday morning. Advertisement As the Timberwolves' only incoming rookies for the 2025-26 season, Beringer and Zikarsky look forward to playing for the team. At the same time, they are excited to be part of an organization where they can develop. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Rudy Gobert remains the Timberwolves' best big man, but they are also preparing for the long-term future. With these two rookies, Gobert has some students to mentor. Beringer stands at 6'11" and Zikarsky at 7'3". Gobert will be an important figure for these two players. He is the most crucial person for the rookie duo, but they are also ecstatic to be part of the organization alongside some players they admire. Advertisement Related: Tim Connelly Reveals Timberwolves' Goals With Drafting Rocco Zikarsky and Joan Beringer The Rookies Are Ecstatic To Be Part Of The Timberwolves Organization As they enter their rookie seasons, Beringer and Zikarsky will probably not play heavy minutes. However, they will be learning well from their teammates, particularly Gobert. However, they are joining an inclusive team where every player enjoys basketball. With Anthony Edwards as the team's superstar and leader, the rookie year should be fun for both players. Beringer is glad to be playing alongside Edwards in the upcoming season, while Zikarsky is eager to learn from his teammates. Advertisement "It's a player whom I watched for two to three years. He is an active player who can do everything on the court. To have a chance to play with a player like him, it's amazing," Beringer said in the presser. "I think the thing that excites me the most is the atmosphere and how the team plays. I've been lucky enough to see a couple of games, and I really enjoy watching them out on the floor," Zikarsky said about his excitement. "I'm most excited to learn from Rudy. Defensive MVP four times. To me, that's what I like, I like playing defense." The Timberwolves Have A Bright Future With The Rookies Beringer and Zikarsky are still raw prospects, but the president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, and his scouts did a great job. These are two promising athletes who can thrive in the Timberwolves' environment. Advertisement Both players will benefit from playing in the G-League's Iowa Wolves. They will also benefit from Gobert's mentorship. The future is bright if they keep learning from the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. Apart from their relationship with Gobert, the rest of the team should be happy with their arrival. They are both elite athletes, so playing with Timberwolves players with a similar level of athleticism can be a learning experience. The rookies are eager to learn and produce big-time numbers, which is a good attitude ahead of their first season. Coach Chris Finch should be pleased with what he has seen from this duo. Advertisement Related: Joan Beringer Gets Rave Reviews From Timberwolves President Tim Connelly This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Connelly Reveals Timberwolves' Goals With Drafting Rocco Zikarsky and Joan Beringer
Tim Connelly Reveals Timberwolves' Goals With Drafting Rocco Zikarsky and Joan Beringer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves had two picks at the 2025 NBA Draft and used both on big men. In the first round, they added French center Joan Beringer, then followed up with Australian center Rocco Zikarsky in a second-round move. Advertisement Those might not have been ideal for many fans, who thought the team would've selected at least one guard during the two-night event. Instead, they kept most of their roster intact and added potential talented reserves who will take time to develop. Beringer is already being heralded by some as Rudy Gobert's replacement. With Zikarsky, it seems that he could be another draft-and-stash prospect for the future. Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly at a media Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Following the NBA Draft, Timberwolves president Tim Connelly was pleased with how the team performed with their picks. He explained that Beringer will be a defensive presence, but he's unsure what he will bring in terms of offense. Advertisement "Right now, he's a sprint-the-floor, he's a lob threat, offensive rebounds, kind of a garbage guy around the rim," he said. "What's really exciting, especially because we have such great coaches, is he's really malleable. However we want to develop him, we can develop him. It's just exciting to see a guy that has all these crazy tools and really no bad habits," Connelly joked with Sports Illustrated. After several second-round pick trades involving the Timberwolves, they chose Zikarsky at No. 45. Connelly indicated they were happy to acquire him at that spot because the front office had him ranked higher. "A guy that has a real puncher's chance," he said of the Australian big. "He's a really unique prospect and a really good kid. ... I think you'll be surprised to watch his skill set, given his size." The Timberwolves president was unsure about the situation with Zikarsky, despite CBS Sports and other outlets indicating that he would sign a two-way contract with the Wolves. Advertisement "He could stay overseas, there's the G League — we want to maximize Iowa. So we're not sure, but we want to ensure that he's going somewhere where his development continues," Connelly told SI. Minnesota now has several 18-year-old bigs to develop for the future. Beringer is listed at 6-foot-11, while Zikarsky is 7-foot-3 with a 9-foot-7 standing reach. "I was hoping to get like 14.4 (feet of height) combined, and I achieved that goal," Connelly joked. Just a day after the Wolves drafted Zikarsky, they made another big move. On Friday, the team signed Naz Reid to a five-year contract worth $125 million, according to ESPN. Advertisement Meanwhile, the situations with Nikeil Alexander-Walker and Julius Randle remain unclear after the Reid signing. Along with that, many fans are hoping another move might be made to add help at the point guard position. Related: Timberwolves Fans React to Joan Beringer as No. 17 Pick in NBA Draft Related: Naz Reid And The Timberwolves Want To Control Their Destiny This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves' Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky attend Minnesota Lynx game
Minnesota Timberwolves rookies Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky attended the WNBA matchup between the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. Beringer and Zikarsky arrived in Minnesota over the weekend and will be introduced at a press conference on Monday. Before their introduction, they were spotted sitting courtside at the Target Center in custom-made jerseys of the hometown team. Advertisement The newest members of the Timberwolves watched the Lynx post a dominating 102-63 win over the Sun, improving to 14-2 this season. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Kayla McBride added 20 points and five assists. Beringer was selected with the 17th pick after averaging 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks on 64.4% shooting from the field in 64 games with Cedevita Olimpija. The Frenchman scored in double figures 11 times, including a season-high 14 points and 10 rebounds on May 27. Zikarsky, the 45th pick, averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field this past season. The Australian was limited to 20 games due to a knee injury after playing 29 games in the season prior because of an ankle injury. Advertisement Beringer and Zikarsky are expected to play in the NBA Summer League with the Timberwolves, beginning on July 10 against the New Orleans Pelicans (3:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2). This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Timberwolves news: Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky attend Lynx game
