Rocco dreams of home Olympics

Athletes are often told to live in the moment and take everything game-by-game, but for Bullets Next Star Rocco Zikarsky, that’s easier said than done.

As Zikarksy enters his second year as a professional and has his eyes on the 2025 NBA Draft, it’s hard for the 18-year-old not to look years ahead.

“2032 is my home Olympics,” Zikarsky told foxsports.com.au.

“That’s the one I really want to be sort of cemented as a Boomers core player (for).”

It's hard to believe Zikarky will only be 26 in eight years' time at the Brisbane Olympics, especially when he was part of the extended Boomers' squad for the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

He continues to raise eyebrows with his rapid improvement so early in his professional career.

With a lot of that development coming from his work ethic and competitiveness, Zikarsky knows that he’s been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some incredible mentors in his early career – particularly Aron Baynes.

Reflecting on when he first met Baynes, Zikarsky admits to being taken back by the Australian hoops legend.

“It was just me and him working out that day with one of our coaches and I was sort of shocked because it was someone I watched on TV growing up and someone I idolised and then they rock up in sandals and they’re just a normal guy. It’s crazy.”

With Baynes not returning to the Bullets roster, the opportunity for Zikarsky to embrace the extra opportunity and responsibility is there for him to grasp.

Last season was a development chance for the potential first round pick and he embraced his role and learnt from it.

“All the tough love,” Zikarsky said, when he spoke about training sessions with extra physicality from his teammates.

“There was nothing he (Baynes) wanted to see more last season than to see me succeed, so it was awesome to have that support and backing from someone who has been in a spot I wanted to be in for so long.”

With so much left to achieve before the Olympics arrive in his home town, Zikarsky is on the right path to join the list of some of Australia’s iconic big men.

Read the full story here >> How NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky became a first-round NBA prospect ... and the ‘turning point’ in his rise