Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Age: 18
Birthplace: Sunshine Coast
Pick: 45
Most recent team: Brisbane Bullets
Rocco Zikarsky was a second-round pick at number 45 for the Minnesota Timberwolves after impressing at May's NBA Draft Combine, rating at number 49 on Jonathan Wasserman's '2025 Prospect Big Board' for his nine foot seven standing reach and range of defensive abilities.
Towering at an almost unfathomable 2.20m tall, he's set to become the third-tallest player in the competition (behind Victor Wembanyama and Zach Edey) should he take to the court for the Wolves.
Zikarsky averaged just 12 minutes per game for former NBL club Brisbane Bullets, a number not unusually low for players of his youthful age, but he quickly worked his way into draft contention with his defence and his ability as a finisher in attacking transitions.
During his only career start as a two-year professional in Brisbane, Zikarsky recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a 35-minute appearance, producing no shortage of highlights for the NBL to spruik on their socials during the draft night.
The Timberwolves believe they have found themselves a steal in Zikorsky, with general manager Tim Connelly saying they "had him much higher on the board".
"Seven foot, three inches ... we're fired up," Connelly said.
"He could stay overseas, he could do the G league, we want to maximise Iowa, so we're not sure ... But we want to make sure he's going somewhere where his development continues."
Tyrese Proctor (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Age: 21
Birthplace: Sydney
Pick: 49
Most recent team: Duke
Perhaps the most likely of the four to get the most minutes on court at NBA level this season due to the Cavs' pressing need for a guard, Proctor is expected to be one of the few second round draft picks to earn a roster spot immediately.
The 21-year-old Duke product shot from outside the arc at an excellent 40.5% during his last college season despite struggling with injuries throughout it and has come through a system that produced alumni such as Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, JJ Redick and Zion Williamson.
He was awarded an NBA Global Academy scholarship as a 17-year-old, just two months after he debuted for the Australia national team in a FIBA Asia Cup qualifier at age 16, before moving to Duke where he was considered one of the best players to appear in the recent Final Four.
Proctor was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he'll reportedly be offered a multi-year deal. At just 84kg, he'll need to continue developing his physical capabilities to get to league level.
Alex Toohey (Golden State Warriors)
Age: 21
Birthplace: Canberra
Pick: 52
Most recent team: Sydney Kings
Another successful graduate of the NBL24 Next Star class, Toohey averaged a handy ten points and four rebounds per game for the Sydney Kings last season, including a standout 23 late in the season against eventual champions Perth Wildcats.
But it was earlier in the season where he caught the eyes of scouts, dropping 26 and 24 points in separate NBL Blitz pre-season games including a 75% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc in those two appearances.
Legendary former Boomers coach Brian Goorjian would then go on to designate him as the best player of the pre-season tournament on the Gold Coast, where NBA personnel had gathered to get a glimpse of the NBL's best talent.
During this week's draft coverage, Toohey was hailed by ESPN broadcaster Jonathan Givony as "a tough, smart and energetic forward (who) gets in the passing lanes and gives you a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor."
He outranked Zikarsky at number 37 on Wasserman's draft list, with the NBA official draft report reading that Toohey's "range, off-ball finishing and mobility should make him a pro-ready prospect, even if his long-term trajectory doesn't scream star".
Robbie McKinlay, who coached Toohey in the NBL1 Centre of Excellence team as an 18-year-old, described Toohey as an “explosive athlete”.
“Alex is such a versatile player at both ends of the floor and fits perfectly in the ‘positionless’ trend of the global game,” McKinlay said.
“You saw in the NBL with the Kings that he has the ability to make big plays and is an explosive athlete in the open court.”
Lachlan Olbrich (Chicago Bulls)
Age: 21
Birthplace: Brisbane
Pick: 55
Most recent team: Illawarra Hawks
Olbrich appears a long-term investment and is most likely to sign a two-way deal and play in the G-League with the Windy City Bulls considering his overseas playing experience is limited to a short-term stint in New Zealand and a college season at UC Riverside, where to his credit he won the Big West Freshman of the Year for an average of 11 points and six rebounds per game.
He was for a long time not considered likely to be a draft pick this year, sitting outside the top-80 of ESPN's power rankings equivalent as of January 2025, but it was his Draft Combine performance that saw him soar into contention.
The Bulls traded pick 45 for 55, making it unlikely that they intend to give Olbrich any minutes at NBA level this season, but there is plenty of potential in the 21-year-old Queenslander.
He averaged 16 minutes, eight points and four rebounds per game in the previous NBL season with the title-winning Hawks, with his 60% shooting efficiency standing out in particular.
He was described by Bleacher Report as "a Domantas Sabonis prototype" with "smart reads, polished footwork, elite hands and soft touch around the rim", which could also be an apt comparison given Olbrich's measurements of 205cm and 104kg are very similar to that of Sabonis.