{"id":668112,"date":"2026-05-13T11:42:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/668112\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:42:13","slug":"rookie-nba-season-to-remember-for-next-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/668112\/","title":{"rendered":"Rookie NBA season to remember for Next Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025-26 NBA season has been one to remember for former NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky.<\/p>\n

After being selected with the 45th pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 Draft, the Brisbane Bullet signed a two-way deal and shone during his rookie campaign in the United States.<\/p>\n

In the G League, Zikarsky averaged 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 27.4 minutes per game, shooting 53 per cent from the field.<\/p>\n

Some of his biggest performances included the 18-point, 20-rebound double-double he produced against the Long Island Nets on January 19 and the 22 points and 15 rebounds he served up to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers a week later.<\/p>\n

The towering center was a particularly dominant force in March, when he averaged 19.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and an enormous 5.2 blocks per game.<\/p>\n

That included a couple of huge outings against the Texas Legends, in which he put up 21 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks and then backed that up two days later with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks.<\/p>\n

His strong play for Iowa saw the big man selected for the NBA G League Next Up Game<\/a>, as part of the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Soon after, Zikarsky made his NBA debut with the Timberwolves on February 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers, collecting one rebound in four minutes of action.<\/p>\n

This was the first of five games that the Australian Boomer played in the NBA, with the best coming against New Orleans on April 13.<\/p>\n

During 20 minutes of court time, he tallied 8 points, 9 boards, 2 assists and 2 blocks.<\/p>\n

Zikarsky, fellow Australian Joe Ingles and their Wolves are currently playing San Antonio in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.<\/p>\n

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