Is Brisbane blocking Zikarsky?

At 0-2, the critics are homing in on the Brisbane Bullets, and one in particular is questioning the coach’s use of NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky.

The 7’3 Australian centre and NBA Draft hopeful played less than seven minutes in the season opener and only 11 minutes in Round 2 which raised the eyebrows of 2001 NBL champion Damon Lowery.

“I just feel like the Bullets are leaving a lot on the table,” Lowery said on NBL Now.

“You got to re-evaluate your priorities, Brisbane.

“God made this dude seven-foot-three. You’re disrespecting God … Now that might be a bit harsh. He’s so tall, so talented, but what’s the point? He might as well be five-foot-three – they’re not using him.”

Zikarsky enters his second season as a Next Star and Lowery believes Brisbane must take advantage before he’s gone.

“I see it as a waste. He’s going to be out of the NBL next season, and we are probably never going to see him again in Australia,” he said.

“It’s not like he’s a lumbering kind of big. He looks pretty mobile to me. Just because you give up an advantage on one end, doesn’t mean you can’t have this same advantage on the other end.”

The Bullets will look to get their season back on track as they host the Sydney Kings at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday night. The game will tip-off at 8pm AEST live on ESPN.