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Feb
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Big Rocco shines on G League's big stage
Rocco Zikarsky #44 of Team Blue and Alijah Martin of Team Blue high five before the game during the G League Next Up Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty Images
Highlights
Former NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky continues to make waves in rookie season with the Iowa Wolves
- Rocco Zikarsky follows in Aussie giant's footsteps
- Zikarsky's G League numbers are NBA ready
- Rocco Zikarsky: A big project with a big upside
Aside from an NBA debut, Rocco Zikarsky's rookie season in the G League could not have gone better, so far.
The Aussie big man and Minnesota Timberwolves draft pick was rewarded for his dominant performances with the Iowa Wolves with a call-up to, what is ultimately the G League's all-star game called the Next Up Game in Los Angeles as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.
Zikarsky, 19, has been tearing it up in the G League after being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 45th pick in the 2025 draft.
He's averaged 14.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 25.4 minutes, shooting 53.0% from the field and an impressive 87.9% at the free-throw line. His scoring, unsurprisingly leans heavily on paint touches and rim finishes, but he also showed early stretch indicators, attempting nearly three threes per game.
Zikarsky started 13 of 16 games, producing 15.7 points and 10.2 rebounds as a starter, compared with 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds off the bench. His impact scaled cleanly with minutes, reinforcing his viability as a rotation big rather than a developmental cameo.
As part of a video at the Next Up event for NBA Australia, the Brisbane product commented about his excitement to be at the game.
"G League Next Up game's going on behind me, I'm playing next game, it's been awesome," he told NBA Australia.
"It's been an awesome weekend, fun, packed. I went to the Intuit Dome a couple of days ago, which was unreal.
"It's really exciting to be picked up and being up here, it's almost a dream come true and hopefully there's more to it over the coming years but super grateful to be here and excited to see what I can showcase on the floor."
Playing for Team Blue, alongside the likes of former Detroit Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes, Zikarsky was a standout and provided several highlights throughout the event, which was won by Team Black with James Akinjo taking home the MVP.
After an impressive G League season so far, Zikarsky could see some minutes and an NBA debut for the Timberwolves as the team closes the regular season and heads into the playoffs in April.
