Rocco Zikarsky joins Josh Giddey at Chicago Bulls. Cleveland, Golden State take other Aussies
Australian centre Rocco Zikarsky was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 45th pick in the NBA draft on Friday (AEST), fellow Aussie Tyrese Proctor was picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers four selections later and compatriot Alex Toohey landed at the Golden State Warriors shortly after.
Zikarsky, a 221cm centre, could be teaming with fellow Australian Josh Giddey should the Bulls bring him in for the coming NBA season. However, it’s also possible the Bulls will opt to have him play elsewhere next year to continue his development.
Australian draft prospect Rocco Zikarsky.
The Bulls have a rich history with Australian players. Luc Longley won three-straight titles playing alongside Michael Jordan at the franchise in the 1990s, while Chris Anstey, Cam Bairstow and Luke Schenscher all spent time at Chicago in the years after.
The 18-year-old Queenslander, who spent the past two seasons as an NBL Next Stars player with the Brisbane Bullets, said before the draft that his preference was to come to the NBA and develop with its team and coaches.
The Cavaliers made Proctor the latest Aussie to join their ranks when they took him with pick 49. He joins the team where Matthew Dellavedova made his name from 2018-2021 after going undrafted, while Luke Travers was a second-round pick in recent years and was a two-way player in Cleveland this past season.
ESPN reported Proctor will have a spot on the Cavs’ roster next season, which is a huge win for the Sydney-raised guard.
Tyrese Proctor was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Proctor was the fifth Duke Blue Devils player taken in this year’s draft.
Toohey a wing for the Sydney Kings, had to wait for the 52nd pick to hear his name called out by Golden State.
He impressed scouts with his feel for the game and defensive nous, but fell into the second round where the Warriors took him with a selection that was originally held by the Phoenix Suns.
Andrew Bogut won an NBA title with the Warriors and returned to the club for another play-off run after he won came home to Australia and won the NBL’s most valuable player award with the Kings in 2019, now Toohey continues that link between the clubs.
The Golden State Warriors drafted Sydney Kings forward Alex Toohey.
He could be a good chance to push for either a roster spot or two-way contract, given the Warriors will need younger players to fill out their roster, which has Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green taking up more than $US120 million in salary cap space next season.
Most mock drafts predicted the Australian hopefuls would be selected in the second round, and, even if selected, forecast the possibility they might be told to remain overseas until called upon by the new NBA team.
Proctor played with Duke University in US college basketball and his teammates Flagg, Maluach and Kon Knueppel were selected in the top 10.
The Charlotte Hornets added another Duke University player to their selections from this year’s draft taking Blue Devils guard Sion James with pick 33.
Flagg flies in Dallas; Maluach steals the show
The Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the first pick of the draft on Thursday while 10th pick Khaman Maluach stole the show after he capped a stunning rise from South Sudan to the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is on his way to the Dallas Mavericks as the No.1 pick in the NBA draft, but the tears of South Sudanese centre Khaman Maluach stole the show during the first round.
The 216-centimetre Maluach was overcome upon hearing his name called with the 10th pick on Thursday (AEST), completing a rise from the streets of South Sudan to the NBA academy, the South Sudan national team and Duke University, where he played this past season.
His draft rights will be part of the Kevin Durant trade, so while he was drafted by Houston Rockets, he will be headed to the Phoenix Suns.
Australia’s main four draft prospects will hope to hear their names called in Friday’s second round, which comprises 29 picks as New York Knicks forfeited their selection.
Flagg flies to Dallas as NBA’s No.1 pick as heckler disrupts draft
Flagg, a Maine native and Duke University forward, was a certainty to be the first pick after his stellar season in the US college basketball system, but some conspiracy theorists in the crowd had their say at the start of the event.
Cooper Flagg (right) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
A fan could be heard screaming “Dallas was fixed” on the TV broadcast microphones just before NBA commissioner Adam Silver walked to the stage to open the draft.
There is an unfounded conspiracy theory among some fans that the Mavericks were awarded the top pick in the NBA draft lottery in return for the shock mid-season trade that resulted in Dallas sending superstar Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers in return for Anthony Davis.
Mavs fans protested for weeks after the Doncic trade, while the Lakers gained a young superstar to take over from LeBron James when he eventually retires.
The Mavericks received the first draft pick, despite having just a 1.8 per cent chance of doing so. The NBA hosts an annual lottery draw for its top 13 selections as a way to avoid having teams deliberately finish last to gain the first pick.
“No. I don’t know what to say about that,” Flagg said when asked about the conspiracy theory.
“I have no insider information, if that’s what you’re looking for. But I just feel blessed for the way it all worked out.”
Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper was taken at No.2 by the San Antonio Spurs, followed by Bahamas and Baylor University guard V.J. Edgecombe at No.3, who joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the name of the brothers
Duke guard Knueppel went to the Charlotte Hornets with pick four, followed by Rutgers guard Ace Bailey to the Utah Jazz and Texas guard Tre Johnson, who joined the Washington Wizards with pick six.
Knueppel is the oldest of five brothers from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, all of whom have names starting with “K”: Kager, Kingston, Kash and Kidman. All five appeared on the ESPN broadcast of the draft and all are aspiring basketballers.
Tears of joy
South Sudanese centre Maluach greeted Silver with tears streaming down his face when he was picked by the Houston with the 10th selection.
Maluach, who also played for South Sudan at Paris 2024, had his draft rights traded to the Phoenix Suns as his selection was a part of the recently announced Durant trade.
10th pick Khaman Maluach is overcome with emotion after being selected in the NBA Draft on Thursday.
Maluach said he wanted to change perceptions about Africa and promote the continent’s best traits rather than its struggles.
“The moment met my expectations,” Maluach said. “I didn’t think I was going to cry, but sometimes I let the emotions out. I was so happy. Everything was just going through my head, my whole journey and my people and the continent I represent, the continent of Africa.
“It just makes me proud because I had beliefs. I believed in myself. I was delusional about my dreams. No matter what the odds are against you, it shows that you can win.”
New Pelicans could be headed to Melbourne
The New Orleans Pelicans, who will play two pre-season games in Melbourne against NBL clubs later this year, picked Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears at No.7 and traded for big man Derick Queen at No.13. The pair will likely debut in Pelicans colours at Rod Laver Arena.
Fears hopes the pair can become stars together as the Pelicans re-tool their roster under new boss Joe Dumars. Fears found out about the trade while talking to the media.
“That’s super dope. Derik is a great guy, super talented. You can expect a lot from him this season,” Fears said.
“I feel like our connection and our duo is going to go a long way, as well. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing to build that connection, two rookies coming in. You guys should expect big things.”
San Antonio were again big winners as they drafted the highly touted Harper at No.2 and then grabbed Arizona defensive ace Carter Bryant at No.14 to pair with French superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Harper is the son of five-time NBA championship winner Ron Harper who won three titles with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and two with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Byrant’s LA Lakers.
Chinese centre Yang Hansen was a surprise early selection by Memphis Grizzlies at No.16, and his draft rights were traded to Portland.
The LA Clippers used the 30th pick on Swiss seven-footer Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
