Every Australian To Be Drafted to the NBA in 2025... And What We Can Expect To See in Their Rookie Years

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The 2025 NBA Draft wasn’t just another night at the Barclays Center—it was a seismic moment for Australian basketball. Not since the golden class of 1997, when Chris Anstey, CJ Bruton, Paul Rogers, and Ben Pepper all heard their names called, had four Aussies crossed the NBA threshold in a single ceremony. But this new wave, shaped by years of development in the Land Down Under, international exposure, and a steel-edged national mindset, has triggered a coming-of-age for Australia as a major hoops nation.

Perhaps the rebirth shouldn't be too surprising. The Boomers - Australia's national team - reached back-to-back Olympic semifinals in 2016 and 2020. Couple that with the longevity of NBA mainstays Ben Simmons and Patty Mills, and one shouldn't be too shocked to hear that the Land Down Under produces basketball superstars. But who is the class of 2025? Let's take a look.

Rocco Zikarsky

A bright horizon could well be starting to rear its head in Minnesota. The Timberwolves have the likes of Anthony Edwards powering them up the Western Conference, while online basketball betting sites make them a contender to win the championship next term. The latest basketball betting at Bovada odds currently make them a +2000 to secure the Larry O'Brien next term, a price level with heavyweights Golden State.

On draft night, they made waves once more, immediately trading for a big Aussie from the Chicago Bulls. Every class has its gravity-defying headline, and this year, it was Rocco Zikarsky—a 7’3” Queensland colossus, whose presence warps both the paint and the imagination. The teenager didn’t just compete in the NBL’s Next Stars program; he commanded it, swatting away an imposing 2.6 shots per game while displaying the kind of mobility that belies his skyscraper frame.

Yet, the tape reveals a prospect still raw on offense—limited floor spacing, rudimentary post moves, and a developing touch around the rim. These holes nudged him from early lottery projections to the mid-second round, but Minnesota saw more: potential that can’t be taught, and a specialty, namely rim protection, that was sorely missed following Karl-Anthony Towns' blockbuster trade.

The Wolves snapped him up - via Chicago - at pick 45, betting on their robust player development system. Don’t expect gaudy rookie scoring numbers. Instead, Zikarsky’s rookie reel will be peppered with adrenaline-pumping chase-down blocks and game-altering putbacks. His defensive BPM was among the best in Australia last season, but can he replicate those shot deterrent numbers in the world’s most athletic league?

Tyrese Proctor

If Zikarsky is the thunder, Tyrese Proctor is the finesse—Sydney-born, Duke-trained, and NBA-destined. With the Blue Devils, Proctor navigated the high wire of expectation, pacing his side's offense with his diagnosable IQ, quick-decision artistry, and a silky 37% stroke from deep across two seasons. His trajectory, at one point, felt certain—slam-dunk lottery pick. But fate intervened: injuries, shifting roles, and the pressure of carrying a malleable young core conspired to slide Proctor to the back half of the draft.

But the numbers only tell half the truth. ESPN’s Jay Bilas labeled Proctor “one of the most unflappable guards in the draft—his calm steadies the room.” In the warp-speed system of Cleveland, serenity and two-way IQ are currency. The Cavs, not too short of backcourt depth behind Donovan Mitchell, pounced at pick 49, seeing in Proctor a floor general capable of running with the second unit and stepping up, should injuries test their rotation.

Expect flashes of perimeter mastery and leadership beyond his years. Early minutes will revolve around sharp ball movement, tenacious on-ball defense, and the controlled aggression that marked his best moments at Duke. If Proctor adjusts to NBA pacing and stays healthy, could he overhaul expectations and become the Cavaliers’ X-factor during a playoff run? Time will tell.

Alex Toohey

Call him the silent weapon. Alex Toohey’s ascent reads as a masterclass—a product of Canberra’s hoops crucible and the NBA Global Academy, he shone at Gonzaga as the engine-room forward who does the unsung, essential work. Averaging 9.8 points and five rebounds, and earning all-conference defensive honors, Toohey made his mark not with headlines but with substance: relentless switch defense, breakneck transition play, and a sixth sense for filling hustle gaps.

Golden State, famed for extracting maximum value from intelligent, versatile role players, identified Toohey as an ideal fit at pick 52. One expert called him “basketball glue—one of the most coachable, adaptable pieces in the draft.” In Kerr’s ecosystem, where seamless ball movement and collective defense are sacrosanct, the Aussie could become the next in a storied line of Warriors utility men just when they really need him.

Don’t expect box score explosions, but look for Toohey to pick pockets, muscle up on switches, and outrun older legs in transition. His statistical impact may be understated, but watch the plus-minus: when Toohey enters, winning plays follow. Will he ascend from “bench spark” to trusted playoff rotation as Golden State navigates an era of renewal? The stage is set.

Lachlan Olbrich

And then there is the Australian draft’s wildcard: Lachlan Olbrich, Wollongong’s own late-blooming colossus. Barely a blip on draft radar twelve months ago, Olbrich’s junior campaign at UC Riverside changed everything, vaulting to averages of 11.2 points, 7.6 boards, and a conference-best 23.4% defensive rebounding rate.

The Bulls, battered by injuries and desperate for size, leaped at the chance to steal Olbrich at 55, trading for him from the Lakers. He’s no offensive maestro, but his energy in the paint and relentless pursuit of boards are tailor-made for a roster focused on long-term growth. Expect his early nights to be battles on the glass, interior defense, and the ever-crucial loose-ball war. Olbrich’s future hinges on his ability to add polish—can he expand his shooting range or finish more efficiently in traffic? The pathway is narrow, but the upside is undeniable.