2025 NBA Draft: Seven prospects with Aussie links
As the 2025 NBA draft fast approaches, it's time to focus on five Aussies who have declared, and two imports who featured in the NBL, as part of the Next Stars program.
Australian basketball always enjoys strong representation in the NBA draft, and this year’s edition will be no different. French Next Star Alex Sarr went second overall last year for example, and Aussie Johnny Furphy joined him in the second round, with both players notching over 50 NBA appearances in year one.
Big man Alex Condon pulled out of draft contention to play another season of college basketball in Florida, but there will be plenty of action in the draft. Here are seven names to keep an eye on as the 26 June draft date approaches.
Credit: May Bailey Photography
Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings)
Rankings: ESPN (36th) The Athletic (43rd), Bleacher Report (34th), Yahoo Sports (36th)
Alex Toohey enters the 2025 NBA draft with two years of professional experience under his belt, after seeing out his two year Next Stars contract with the Sydney Kings.
The 6’8’’ forward averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in the 2024-25 season, en route to winning the 2025 NBL Next Generation Award. Toohey is a versatile scorer with above-the-rim athleticism and an improving jump shot, although his three ball will be under the microscope, after shooting 30% from downtown in his second NBL season.
The 21 year old also has a reliable handle, owing to his point guard background from his junior basketball days. Defensively, Toohey has a reported 6’10’’ wingspan and was impactful for the Kings, averaging 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in the box score. In the lead up to the draft, Toohey has drawn plaudits from draft experts such as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, after scoring 15 points in a scrimmage game and showing an impressive feel for the game. Toohey’s stock is certainly on the rise, and it’s not unfathomable that he could sneak in to the back end of the first round on draft day.
Tyrese Proctor (Duke Blue Devils)
Rankings: ESPN (43rd) The Athletic (37th), Bleacher Report (37th), Yahoo Sports (43rd)
Tyrese Proctor recently capped off his junior season with collegiate powerhouse Duke University, and in favour of entering the NBA draft, signalled a desire to skip his senior year. The Aussie shot a career high 40.5% from deep this season, while averaging 5.8 attempts, thus impressing onlookers with his improving jump shot. He also averaged 12.4 points overall on 45.2% shooting from the field, in a sign of incremental growth from his sophomore year. Proctor took a back seat as a playmaker this season, averaging just 2.2 assists, but having grown to be 6’6’’ tall, he projects as an archetypal two guard at this point.
Proctor earned Third-team All-ACC honours for his performances throughout the 2024-25 season, on both sides of the ball. The talented guard was a key cog in a Duke defence that ranked fourth in the NCAA for defensive efficiency, and NBA teams will be hoping he projects as a “3-and-D” player. Most mock drafts have Proctor being selected in the early to mid second round, in a similar spot to countryman Alex Toohey.
Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets)
Rankings: ESPN (41st) The Athletic (45th), Bleacher Report (48th), Yahoo Sports (54th)
While Rocco Zikarsky improved incrementally in his second NBL season, he didn’t have the breakout year that many were hoping for. The emergence of Tyrell Harrison perhaps scuppered Zikarsky’s hopes of becoming Brisbane’s go-to bigman, although the latter is still just eighteen years of age. Zikarsky averaged 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds, which is an impressive output in just eleven minutes of average playing time, but blocked just 0.6 shots each night - down from 1.0 the season prior.
NBA scouts were hoping to see Zikarsky develop into a dominant rim protector and a more versatile scorer, although he still has traits that make him a high value NBA prospect. Zikarsky has impressive mobility for player that stands at 7’3’’ tall, and his measurements made him one of the talks of the recent draft combine. Most mock drafts have Zikarsky listed in the mid to late second round, so the Queenslander is a good chance of earning an NBA contract, although he may have to work his way up from the G League.
Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks)
Rankings: ESPN (52nd) The Athletic (Unranked), Bleacher Report (59th), Yahoo Sports (Unranked)
Lachlan Olbrich made major strides in the 2024-25 NBL season, averaging 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds for an Illawarra Hawks team that emerged as champions. The 21 year old was highly impactful at the pointy end of the season, scoring twelve and thirteen points in games four and five of the NBL finals respectively. Olbrich shot an impressive 59.2% from the field this past season, although he only managed to connect on 54.1% of his looks from the charity stripe.
Olbrich is a high level big man prospect who can set screens, score with either hand and has a nifty right hand hook shot in his arsenal. The Aussie can also crash the offensive boards effectively, although NBA teams will be skeptical about his developing jump shot and perceived athletic limitations. Nevertheless, Olbrich recorded a double double in both scrimmages at the NBA draft combine, with 31 points and 17 rebounds across 42 minutes of play. At this stage, Olbrich is an outside chance of earning a second round selection, but don’t count out the rising big man.
Izan Almansa (Perth Wildcats)
Rankings: ESPN (69th) The Athletic (55th), Bleacher Report (Unranked), Yahoo Sports (58th)
NBL Next Star Izan Almansa was an intriguing addition for the Perth Wildcats, who have a league-record ten championships to their name. Almansa had an up-and-down season but was generally productive overall, averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Spaniard shot 51.1% from the field, but questions linger around his developing shooting stroke, as he connected on just 53.4% of his looks at the free throw line.
Almansa’s three ball is also a long way from being NBA ready, as he attempted just 0.6 per game in the NBL, and made one in three on average. At 6’10 he has the body of a forward or centre, but in today’s NBA, even a big man’s jump shot will earn heavy scrunity. Almansa is also yet to show potential as a rim protector, with just 0.3 blocks per game, and seldom makes passes out of the post. Nevertheless, he has impressive touch on his right hand hook shot, and above-the-rim athleticism.
Almansa is on the fringes of the second round in most mocks, and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he hears his name called on draft night. It would be a major endorsement for the NBL however, to have yet another Next Star graduate to the NBA.
Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats)
Rankings: ESPN (64th) The Athletic (Unranked), Bleacher Report (Unranked), Yahoo Sports (Unranked)
Ben Henshall is the fifth and final Aussie player to earn a mention, and alongside Olbrich, arguably the most improved player on this list. Henshall saw a dramatically increased role with the Wildcats in the 2024-25 season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 24.2 minutes of play. He also started in 28 out of 32 matches, becoming a key contributor in the Wildcats’ finals push.
Henshall is a versatile guard who stands at 6’5’’ tall and thrives as a primary ball handler, but can equally function as a score-first player. He has previously struggled with his scoring efficiency, but shot a respectable 40.0% clip in the 2024-25 NBL season, and made 34.1% of his 4.3 three-point attempts per game. Henshall doesn’t shy away from tough looks, and considering the degree of difficulty on many of his shots, NBA teams will see potential in this swashbuckling guard.
Unfortunately very few mock drafts have listed Henshall inside the top 60, but he has come in at 64th on ESPN’s recent big board, so he is an outside chance of a second round selection. If he continues on this trajectory with the Wildcats however, Henshall won’t be far off an NBA contract in the years to come.
Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Rankings: ESPN (67th) The Athletic (Unranked), Bleacher Report (Unranked), Yahoo Sports (Unranked)
Trinidadian prospect Malique Lewis was an important contributor for South East Melbourne in the 2024-25 season, averaging 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds across 34 appearances. The 6’8 forward is an effective interior player, but deficiencies in his outside shot have limited his trajectory up the draft boards. Lewis shot just 31.6% from beyond the arc (2.9 attempts per game), and 65.5% from the foul line, so NBA scouts will be sceptical about his perimeter potential.
Nervertheless, the well-built Lewis has a professional’s body and NBA scouts may see potential in his physical upside. He has a reported 7’1’’ wingspan, and sometimes such physical tools and defensive potential may be enough to earn a second round selection. For now however, Lewis is yet to see any love on mock drafts, and finds himself at 67th on ESPN’s big board.