After wrapping up their 2024-25 season with a solid 48-34 record but a frustrating second-round playoff exit, the Golden State Warriors are shifting their focus to fine-tuning their roster this offseason. While the team has several areas to address, the most glaring weakness lies at the center position. With limited options in free agency and the trade market, the Warriors may turn to the 2025 NBA Draft to find a solution, despite lacking a first-round pick.
Holding the 41st overall pick in the second round, Golden State still has a chance to unearth a gem. According to ESPN’s latest mock draft by analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, the Warriors are eyeing an intriguing prospect: 7-foot-3 Australian center Rocco Zikarsky.
Are you seeing this, @warriors! 🫵🏽
In all seriousness – any 7 ft C that understands how to leverage his size and length in a live game setting should get a close look and serious consideration from GMs. 7’4” Rocco Zikarsky fits the bill… https://t.co/gNqBVqOGrM
— Conrado Pascual (@CP3_777) May 14, 2025
At just 18 years old, Zikarsky is a raw talent with limited polish but undeniable potential. Playing for Brisbane in Australia’s National Basketball League this season, he averaged 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in a modest 11.8 minutes per game across 18 appearances. Now, he’s making the leap to the United States, hoping to showcase his skills on a bigger stage.
What makes Zikarsky so tantalizing is his rare combination of size and agility. Standing at 7’3″, he moves with remarkable fluidity for a player of his stature, showing flashes of dominance on both ends of the floor. As a mobile lob threat, he can finish emphatically at the rim, while his shot-blocking instincts make him a promising rim protector—qualities that align perfectly with the Warriors’ needs at center.
Drafting a potential starter in the second round is no easy feat, but Zikarsky’s upside makes him a calculated risk worth taking. For a Warriors team looking to bolster their frontcourt, this young Australian big man could be the high-reward prospect they need to take a chance on in the 2025 NBA Draft.