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Queensland junior and Brisbane Bullets centre Rocco Zikarsky made his mark at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, reinforcing his status as one of Australia’s most promising young prospects.

Standing 7-foot-3 with a massive 9-foot-6½ standing reach, Zikarsky was the tallest player at the event, earning praise from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, who labelled the measurement “outrageous.”

He backed it up on court, impressing in drills and athletic testing:

13-of-25 in the 3-point star shooting drill
14-of-30 off the dribble
9-of-10 from the free throw line

https://www.queensland.basketball/resources/news/rocco-tracker-zikarsky-turns-heads-at-nba-draft-combine#:~:text=Queensland%20junior%20and%20Brisbane%20Bullets,in%20drills%20and%20athletic%20testing:

Thoughts?

Vecenie is the Australia expert and has him ranked in the 40s.

Hoping Denver can somehow buy a second round pick and draft this guy.

He is a sleeper for sure. I like him more than the older, more polished guys like Kalkbrenner and Raynaud. He has special mobility for a guy his size IMO, basically built like a 7'3 pro swimmer (If that makes any sense lol).

Think a patient team will get a nice role player in him late R1 / early R2. He has some unique upside as well that I dont see many of the other C's mocked in that 25-45 range have. For example I think he has a better chance to breakout as a quasi-unicorn than a guy like Yang.

He's huge, high-energy, runs the floor well and has great hands for a big. No reason he can't come in and be like Robin Lopez, imo, and maybe more impactful offensively.

I'd love for Portland to nab him if we can pick up a late first or second round pick.

I had Rocco top 10 last summer.

Electric at the rim. High energy.

Then he fell off the map this year. Makes you wonder if it was just a coach thing.

I really want the Bulls to grab him, he has excellent upside.

Would be my pick #30 if i were the GM and he still on the board. Footprints of Zu with Harden making it easier.

Chi town wrote:I had Rocco top 10 last summer.

Electric at the rim. High energy.

Then he fell off the map this year. Makes you wonder if it was just a coach thing.

it's never a good sign when you regress from age 18 to age 19.

SeattleJazzFan wrote:

Chi town wrote:I had Rocco top 10 last summer.

Electric at the rim. High energy.

Then he fell off the map this year. Makes you wonder if it was just a coach thing.

it's never a good sign when you regress from age 18 to age 19.

There is such little tape on him from this season it’s hard to tell what has happened. Still think he goes late 1st or early 2nd

Is he more Luc Longley or Randy Breuer in Timberwolves lore?

Klomp wrote:Is he more Luc Longley or Randy Breuer in Timberwolves lore?

He has ability, but will take time.

I've seen him from 15 years old and he's always showed improvement every season. He's been working hard on his outside shooting and has a decent touch around the basket.

Good shot blocking instincts, but he's still young, so lots of defensive learning to come.

He had some minor injuries this season, so it was very stop/start season for him and the NBL team in Australia that he played for, really butchered his growth and opportunities IMO.

In the right environment, he could be a steal, but it will all depend on time and development.