'Rocco solid': Why NBL legend loves 'motivated' Zikarsky

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Aussie big man Rocco Zikarsky's rookie NBA season couldn't have gone any better but an NBL legend believes the Minnesota Timberwolves two-way talent can thrive even more in season 2026-27.

Zikarsky impressed in his first season with the Timberwolves after being drafted with pick 45 in the 2025 NBA Draft, earning a two-way contract with the Western Conference heavyweights, starring for the Iowa Wolves in the G-League and making the G-League All-Star Game, which earned him a call-up to the NBA where he played five games in his first campaign.

The 20-year-old Sunshine Coast product, who spent two seasons as an NBL Next Star with the Brisbane Bullets before making his way to the US, averaged 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds for Iowa, while shooting 46% from the three-point line.

And at 7'3", Zikarsky is in the right place for development as a big man, with Chris Finch's program having a reputation for allowing the likes of Rudy Gobert and another rising star in Joan Beringer shine, on top of past Timberwolves such as Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Appearing on the latest edition of Cut to the Jase with NBL legend Jason Cadee, Damian Martin who is the director of ProMondo Sports where Zikarsky is a client, said the former Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship holder is ready for a big second season in the NBA.

"People forget that Rocco was alate starter to the sport and then barely played for the two years (in the NBL) before he got drafted," Martin said on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"A Next Star in the NBL, the youngest player on the team, you've already got some quality bigs ahead of you. Obviously, Tyrell (Harrison) is one of the best centres in Australia, so he was learning. So, for him, just getting game time was super important.

"But to go to the G-League and become a G-League All-Star was amazing, to get called up for a number of games with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were genuine title contenders was brilliant for him. Now he probably goes in the season two of doing that mix of G-League and playing in the NBA.

"But his development has been amazing. I love the kid. He's motivated, he's still super young, and so I can't wait to see what season two in the NBA brings Rocco because I think he's in the right environment and he's going to start to shine."

Zikarsky also has an opportunity to earn more NBA minutes in his sophomore season after the Timberwolves traded away Randle to Brooklyn and then brought in another former NBL Next Star in LaMelo Ball to partner alongside Minnesota's franchise player in Anthony Edwards.

But trading away Randle as well as Sixth Man of the Year specialist in Naz Reid and switching them for Ball and Jonathan Kuminga means the Timberwolves have gone the small-ball route and opted for more spacing and athleticism outside of Gobert and slots Beringer into the back-up centre position. Putting Zikarsky just an injury or a match-up situation away from playing a meaningful role for Finch.

It also puts Zikarsky as one piece in an exciting young core for the Timberwolves with Edwards, Ball, Kuminga, Beringer and Jaden McDaniels, who had a breakout NBA Playoffs earlier this season.

Playing significant NBA minutes is a far cry from Zikarsky's upbringing after starting his basketball journey late before bursting onto the scene with his Queensland state teams at National Junior Championships, where he even won a gold medal along the way.

On Cut to the Jase, Martin spoke about what it meant to see the youngster make his dream come true at the 2025 NBA Draft.

"Honestly, it wasn't just special from a word point of view, but one of the most magical moments I've been involved in in general," the six-time NBL champion and six-time NBL Defensive Player of the Year said.

"So, when Rocco got the call from the T Wolves GM saying 'hey, we're about to take you with our next pick' and we look up on the screen and ESPN says 'with the next pick, Rocco Zikarsky'. It seemed very interesting.

"I don't mind admitting I got hay fever in that moment... it was honestly just one of the best moments I've been a part of and yeah, just so special."

Minnesota open their pre-season schedule against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 6.