From Boondall to the big league, former Northside Wizards defensive centre Rocco Zikarsky has officially joined the NBA ranks—taken at pick No. 45 in the 2025 Draft and now bound for the Minnesota Timberwolves after a trade from the Chicago Bulls.
Boondall Beginnings
Long before draft night lights, Zikarsky was the lanky kid whose 220-cm frame barely fit through the doors of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, home court of the Northside Wizards.
Boondall parents still remember seeing the Sunshine Coast-born teenager swat shots at junior fixtures, already standing head-and-shoulders above scoreboard signage. His sporting pedigree runs as deep as his sterling genetic pedigree: Dad Björn collected Olympic swimming bronze for Germany, while Mum Kylie conquered Australian surf-ironwoman circuits. Yet, basketball won his heart early.
He rose through Queensland South representative squads, listed proudly as “Centre – Northside Wizards” on state team sheets, before earning a scholarship to the NBA Global Academy in Canberra. Watch Rocco’s junior Wizards highlights on TikTok
Next-Stars Development
In July 2023, the Brisbane Bullets signed Zikarsky as the youngest recruit in the NBL’s Next Stars program. His debut—six points and four blocks in just ten minutes against Sydney—hinted at what a 17-year-old, 117-kilogram rim protector could become. The 2023-24 campaign delivered steady minutes (27 games, 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 block on nearly 60 percent shooting); but the real breakout arrived on 29 November 2024 when, promoted to the starting five, he dropped 13 points, eight boards and three blocks on Perth.
Coaches lauded his timing and unusual mobility for someone with a 9-foot-7 standing reach.
Between seasons he added bulk—an extra 13 kilograms, according to league reports—to handle the bruising screens of pro paint battles, all while fine-tuning a soft shooting touch that occasionally stretches to the arc.
Scouts began pencilling him into mid-second-round mock drafts as a classic high-upside project: raw offence, stellar defence, plus a work ethic shaped by elite-sport parents.
Draft-Night Moment
Chicago’s Combine confirmed the whispers: at 7-foot-3 without shoes, Zikarsky measured as the tallest athlete in the 2025 class. On 26 June, Minnesota used pick 45—acquired via a pair of trade-downs—to secure him on a two-way deal with G-League affiliate Iowa Wolves.
Analysts framed the selection as a “swing for size”; when he eventually debuts, only Zach Edey and Victor Wembanyama will stand taller on an NBA floor.
Minnesota staff have signalled a patient plan—summer league, weight-room time, and G-League reps—banking on his shot-blocking instincts to translate while his footwork and foul discipline catch up.
For Zikarsky, the destination matters less than the journey: “Boondall to the big time” has a nice ring, but the real milestone is proving Australian pathways can carry teens from suburban clubs straight to basketball’s summit.
Hometown Legacy
Back in Boondall, Wizards juniors now practise post moves under banners bearing the name of their most famous alumnus. Coaches replay clips of his high-school dunks to show that rim protection and hustle still trump highlight-reel flair. Parents who once queued for sausage-sizzle fund-raisers now tune in to watch Timberwolves summer league games, certain they’ll spot a familiar jersey number lurking under the basket.
Whether Zikarsky becomes a franchise cornerstone or a specialist role-player, he’s already etched himself into Brisbane sporting folklore: the kid who out-grew every local gym yet never forgot where the journey started. His next chapter begins in Minneapolis, but every block, board and baby-hook will carry a little echo of Boondall.
Published 27-06-2025
