{"id":136205,"date":"2025-04-25T12:26:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T16:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=136205"},"modified":"2025-04-25T12:26:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T16:26:55","slug":"lakers-rocco-zikarsky-bleacher-report-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/25\/lakers-rocco-zikarsky-bleacher-report-mock-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 NBA Draft: Lakers Projected to Nab 7’2″ Australian C in B\/R Mock"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even with the NBA playoffs, the upcoming draft is generating just as much buzz as June 25 inches closer. The Lakers have another late second-round selection, with their first-rounder (#22) <\/span>going to the Atlanta Hawks<\/span><\/a>. A recent mock draft by Bleacher Report\u2019s Jonathan Wasserman has the Lakers filling a position of need with someone who drew comparisons to a former top-ten pick.<\/span><\/p>\n

2025 NBA Draft: Lakers Projected to Nab 7’2″ Australian C in B\/R Mock<\/b><\/h2>\n

Wasserman Drafts Brisbane Big Man to Lakers<\/b><\/h3>\n

Wasserman\u2019s latest projections came after Duke star <\/span>Cooper Flagg<\/span><\/a> declared for the 2025 Draft<\/span><\/a>. With the 55th pick in the Bleacher Report\u2019s mock draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select <\/span>Rocco Zikarsky<\/span><\/a> from the NBL’s Brisbane Bullets.<\/span><\/p>\n

At 7\u20192\u201d and 227 pounds, the 18-year-old center has received limited opportunities in Brisbane, but scouting reports have recognized his potential. He was once projected to go as high as <\/span>17th overall in October<\/span><\/a> and had been <\/span>compared to<\/span><\/a> Blazers center <\/span>Donovan Clingan<\/span><\/a> and Jazz starter <\/span>Walker Kessler<\/span><\/a>. However, meager production (3.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG and 0.8 BPG in two years) and a <\/span>season-ending knee injury<\/span><\/a> have significantly affected his stock.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, Wasserman believes, \u201cAge, size and junior-level impact will still earn him looks and front-office discussion before the draft.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zikarsky returned to action last month, being named to the <\/span>selection camp roster<\/span><\/a> for Australia\u2019s U19 squad for the upcoming FIBA U19 Men\u2019s World Cup. A video posted to X by NBL Next Stars showed the young center soaring for dunks, swatting layup attempts and even swishing a three-pointer or two.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

ROCCO IS BACK \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

The Next Star was on the floor this week in Canberra for the U19 Emus camp and he looked in great shape \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa5 @BasketballAus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vKu4OTjIZu<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) March 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n