Australian teenager Rocco Zikarsky will start his NBA career at Minnesota, having been recruited with pick No.45 in the draft.
Zikarsky, Australian basketball’s next big thing who is 2.2 metres tall, was one of four players from the NBL’s Next Star program to declare for the draft.
The 18-year-old, who hails from the Sunshine Coast and completed two NBL seasons with Brisbane, was overlooked on the first night of the event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
But Zikarsky was snapped up with the 15th pick of the second round, which Chicago had traded to by the Timberwolves.
Fellow Australians Tyrese Proctor, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich were drafted soon after.
Proctor went to the Cleveland Cavaliers with pick No.49, while Sydney Kings talent Toohey will link up with superstar Steph Curry after being selected by Golden State with pick No.52.
Illawarra Hawk Olbrich (pick No.55) will join compatriot Josh Giddey at Chicago.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/giant-teen-the-first-of-four-aussies-taken-in-nba-draft-c-19171995
