NBA Draft 2025: Australian Rocco Zikarsky ‘the most down to earth’ next big thing

Rocco Zikarsky plans to do it his own way on NBA Draft night. He’ll wear a used suit, have family by his side and hope to join the honour roll of Aussie hoops stars to make it big.

If you spotted Aussie giant, 7’3 Rocco Zikarsky walking down Fifth Avenue in New York, you wouldn’t think he was preparing for the biggest night of his life.

The teen hoops talent is one of the nation’s four prospects at Thursday’s NBA draft, joining college star Tyrese Proctor and NBL rising talents Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich in this year’s class.

MOCK DRAFT MONITOR: WHERE WILL ROCCO BE TAKEN?

But roaming the city streets with his former athlete parents in the 38 degree New York heat, Zikarsky, 18, could be the most down to earth next big thing.

He enjoys the wholesome things in life, with creative family activities something he says keep him entertained away from the court.

“I have this thing with my mum and my grandma where we build puzzles together,” Zikarsky told Code Sports in New York.

“That’s my little de-stress, I build lego and do puzzles.

“That’s me, I guess.”

With “a little bit of sightseeing,” some casual workout sessions on the cards for the week and the step count already running high as he walked the blocks back to his hotel, the naturally chilled out Queenslander concedes it is a nervous wait for draft night.

“It’s exciting, a little bit nerve racking but it’s been a couple of years in the making and it’s all starting to come true,” Zikarsky said.

Rocco Zikarsky shooting on the move 3s at 7-foot-4 in the star shooting drill at the NBA draft combine pic.twitter.com/uxsOoiQWDd

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2025

His father Björn, an Olympic medal-winning swimmer for Germany, mother Kylie, an Australian champion ironwoman, and his grandmother will all be sitting alongside Zikarsky at night one of the draft at the Barclays Centre.

“You always see on Instagram the parents with their kids who are going to get drafted,” he said.

“To have that happening for me, having my mum, dad and grandma come out, it’s really cool.

“They’ve been there for me, and now they hopefully get to see all the work they’ve put in hopefully flourish.

“Having such a supportive family, a supporting cast really helps.”

Rocco Zikarsky with his parents Kylie and Björn.

To think that he didn’t initially think basketball, let alone the NBA, would be his dream when he first picked up the ball as a kid.

It wasn’t until he exploded onto the junior scene as a 16-year-old that it really “clicked.”

“Maybe two years ago, that’s when I really thought I can do something with this,” Zikarsky said.

“(The NBA dream) Definitely not as long as some other guys but this has been a dream for a while.

“Even when I picked up the basketball, it was like alright this is another after school sport and I’ll have fun with it and play with my mates.

“It’s still sort of surreal that I’m in this moment, and over the next couple of days, my life is going to be a whole lot different.”

Rocco Zikarsky on the NBA Draft

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 pic.twitter.com/hyP9WZVTgX

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2025

Since deciding to pursue the pro hoops dream, Zikarsky has based his game off the likes of Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner and Dallas Mavericks’ big man Daniel Gafford.

But in making the jump to the NBA, he also wants to build on what the past Australian players have started.

“I just want to carry that, there’s already so many good names in the past, I want to carry that torch and continue that progression of having Aussies in the NBA.”

Zikarsky at 16, when he was already earmarked as a future star.

Despite his past NBL season with the Brisbane Bullets not going quite as planned with a lack of minutes and then injury, he declares his priority for that campaign was “all about development, being in the NBL playing against grown men and getting to play in a professional environment”.

And he displayed that growth at the NBA Draft Combine in May, impressing many with his skill set and his incredible 7’4 wingspan.

“For me the biggest one is still my body, working on getting stronger and faster, jumping higher, that sort of thing,” Zikarsky said of improvements.

“Obviously the height is there, so just adding on to that and becoming a more well rounded player.”

Rocco Zikarsky powers to the hoop while playing for Brisbane.

Zikarsky testing during the NBA Draft Combine.

The tallest player in the draft pool flew into NYC from Minnesota, and says the experience of travelling cross-country visiting and training with NBA teams has been “hectic.”

“But at the end of the day, you only get to do it once, so you may as well enjoy it and have a good time.”

So what will be the fit check for this Aussie teen come draft night? In line with his relaxed nature of course.

“It’s not very easy to get suits,” he laughed.

“It’s a bit of a recycled one, I’ve worn it before.

“Sustainable fashion is what we call it.”

And if he made any purchases at New York’s massive lego store?

“I couldn’t, I have no space in my bag!”

To think that won’t be an issue at all should his name get called out come Thursday.

Originally published as NBA Draft 2025: Australian Rocco Zikarsky ‘the most down to earth’ next big thing