Rocco Zikarsky
| No. 11 – Brisbane Bullets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 11 July 2006 Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Listed height | 220 cm (7 ft 3 in) |
| Listed weight | 103 kg (227 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Brisbane Grammar School (Brisbane, Queensland) |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023 | BA Centre of Excellence |
| 2023–present | Brisbane Bullets |
Rocco Zikarsky (born 11 July 2006)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Early life and career
[edit]Zikarsky was born on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland,[2] to German Olympic medal-winning swimmer Björn Zikarsky[3] and Australian champion ironwoman Kylie Zikarsky.[2] He excelled in Queensland representative teams and was a standout player at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.[4] He attended Brisbane Grammar School throughout his early teenage years.[5]
In 2023, Zikarsky played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in seven games.[6]
Professional career
[edit]On 7 July 2023, Zikarsky signed with the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL) as part of the NBL's Next Stars program.[7] At 16 years old, he became the youngest player in the program's history.[8] On 7 January 2024, he had six points and four blocks in 10 and-a-half minutes against the Sydney Kings.[9] He played in 27 of the Bullets' 28 games in the 2023–24 season, averaging 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks on 59.7% shooting in 7.0 minutes per game.[10]
Zikarsky returned to the Bullets for the 2024–25 NBL season,[11] entering his second season as one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA draft.[12] In the Bullets' season opener, Zikarsky played six minutes, scored four points and grabbed three rebounds.[13] He struggled to break into the starting lineup ahead of fellow centre Tyrell Harrison.[14]
National team career
[edit]In 2022, Zikarsky played for Australia at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship and the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.[15] In 2024, he led Australia to victory at the Albert Schweitzer-Tournament, earning MVP honours. He averaged 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game on 73.1% shooting.[16]
Zikarsky debuted for the Australian Boomers during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rocco Zikarsky - Player Profile". FIBA. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Who is Rocco Zikarsky? Seven-foot-three rookie set to make NBL debut for Brisbane Bullets | Sporting News Australia". www.sportingnews.com. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Seven-foot-tall teen's big dreams to join NBA". 9now.nine.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Rocco Zikarsky". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Inside life of 219cm teen basketball rising star Rocco Zikarsky". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Rocco Zikarsky, Basketball Player, News, Stats - australiabasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Bullets Sign Giant Next Star". NBL.com.au. 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Introducing The NBL's Next Stars: Rocco Zikarsky". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Bullets impress in snapping losing run to Kings". NBL.com.au. 7 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Rocco Zikarsky Player Profile, Brisbane - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "How NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky became a first-round NBA prospect ... and the 'turning point' in his rise". Fox Sports. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Uluc, Olgun (22 May 2024). "Zikarsky, Toohey to get Boomers minutes in Japan". ESPN.com.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Through Two Games of NBL Play, Rocco Zikarsky's Draft Stock Is Plummeting". NBA Draft On SI. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Wright, Nick (1 November 2024). "Why a 220cm teenage NBA prospect is being held back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Rocco Zikarsky - Player Profile". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ G, Ayush (19 April 2024). "Could Rocco Zikarsky break out in NBL25 and become Australia's next NBA big?". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.