Seven-foot-three teen sensation Rocco Zikarsky tipped to surprise after declaring for the 2025 NBA draft
He didn’t have the expected breakthrough NBL season, but a legendary Boomer says the seven-foot-three Rocco Zikarsky is primed to defy the doubters at the 2025 NBA Draft.
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Brisbane’s teen sensation Rocco Zikarsky is primed to defy the doubters after declaring for this year’s NBA draft following a below-par NBL season with the Bullets.
That’s the belief of legendary Australian Boomers centre David Andersen – who says Zikarsky possesses the package and potential to excel in the world’s best basketball league.
The seven-foot-three NBL Next Star is coming off an underwhelming season with the Bullets – averaging just 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign - but the 18-year-old has enormous upside.
According to Andersen, NBA teams will see Zikarsky’s sheer size, length, genuine shooting ability and back themselves to develop him.
It’s why there is a quiet confidence the 18-year-old Bullets young gun could surprise on draft day and surge up the standings.
“Rocco has got a lot of tools to work with – and while you can look at his past season and think: ‘he didn’t play or score much’ – NBA teams also go off potential,” said Andersen, who won 14 championships playing across the world in a stellar career that also included two seasons in the NBA.
“A lot of kids are getting drafted off potential and Rocco has everything you’d want in a big man. Long arms and a body that can still get up and down the floor quite well.
“NBA scouts will more look at those qualities than his points per game.”
Zikarsky – who took to his social media to declare he was “All-in” ahead of June’s draft - has been based in America working out since the NBL season.
The Bullets star is far from the finished and polished product, but Anderson urged for patience.
100% in 🙠https://t.co/9zGyelEsvi
— Rocco (@RoccoZikarsky) April 29, 2025
From his own experiences as a long-serving and successful big man he knows it takes time for centres to reach their potential, even for the greats like Dallas Mavericks Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.
“It (your potentially) usually happens a lot further down the road as a big man,” said Andersen, who now works with the NBL’s Next Star program.
“Even guys like Dirk copped a lot of slack when he first came into the league.
“He was a young German kid who was lanky and he took a good few seasons to really get going and to flourish into one of the best players the game has ever seen.
“Hopefully NBA teams look at Rocco’s potential and it translates to a high pick in the draft.”
Zikarsky will be joined by five other Aussies to declare for this year’s NBA draft – the most players to nominate in one year in history.
Fellow NBL Next Star in Sydney Kings wing Alex Toohey has nominated and is an expected late first-round selection.
Leading Australian US college stars Tyrese Proctor and Alex Condon will also feature following deep March Madness runs with Duke and Florida.
Condon – a potent power forward who helped steer Florida to the NCAA title – had AFL clubs courting his signature before he opted to take the college route.
The Perth-born talent is tipped as a first-round picks following his March Madness title heroics.
Proctor, a point guard from Sydney, is also poised to be a late first-round selection.
Emerging Perth Wildcats guard Ben Henshall, on Wednesday, also declared for the 2025 NBA draft after a standout NBL season.
AUSSIES DECLARED FOR THE 2025 NBA DRAFT:
Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets)
Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings)
Alex Condon (Florida Gators)
Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks)
Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats)
Originally published as Seven-foot-three teen sensation Rocco Zikarsky tipped to surprise after declaring for the 2025 NBA draft
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