| Rocco Zikarsky | |
| Number: | 11 |
| Team: | Brisbane Bullets |
| Position: | Center |
| League: | NBL |
| Birth Date: | 11 July 2006 |
| Birth Place: | Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Height Cm: | 220 |
| Weight Kg: | 103 |
| High School: | Brisbane Grammar School (Brisbane, Queensland) |
| Career Start: | 2023 |
| Years1: | 2023 |
| Team1: | BA Centre of Excellence |
| Years2: | 2023–present |
| Team2: | Brisbane Bullets |
Rocco Zikarsky (born 11 July 2006)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Zikarsky was born on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland,[2] to German Olympic medal-winning swimmer Björn Zikarsky[3] and Australian champion ironwoman Kylie Zikarsky. He excelled in Queensland representative teams and was a standout player at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.[4] He attended Brisbane Grammar School throughout his early teenage years.[5]
In 2023, Zikarsky played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in seven games.[6]
On 7 July 2023, Zikarsky signed with the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL) as part of the NBL's Next Stars program.[7] At 16 years old, he became the youngest player in the program's history.[8] On 7 January 2024, he had six points and four blocks in 10 and-a-half minutes against the Sydney Kings.[9] He played in 27 of the Bullets' 28 games in the 2023–24 season, averaging 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks on 59.7% shooting in 7.0 minutes per game.[10]
Zikarsky returned to the Bullets for the 2024–25 NBL season,[11] entering his second season as one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA draft.[12] In the Bullets' season opener, Zikarsky played six minutes, scored four points and grabbed three rebounds.[13] He struggled to break into the starting lineup ahead of fellow centre Tyrell Harrison.[14] On 29 November 2024, he made his first NBL start with Harrison out with illness, as he recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a 117–89 loss to the Perth Wildcats.[15]
In 2022, Zikarsky played for Australia at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship and the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.[16] In 2024, he led Australia to victory at the Albert Schweitzer-Tournament, earning MVP honours. He averaged 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 26 minutes per game on 73.1% shooting.[17] [18]
Zikarsky debuted for the Australian Boomers during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.[19]