The Fab Four: A look at Australia's newest NBA draftees

They were forced to wait an extra day, but Australia’s latest NBA draft hopefuls made sure the wait was worth it.

Rocco Zikarsky, Tyrese Proctor, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich all realised a lifelong dream when their names were called on the second day of the draft. With four Aussies selected for the first time since 1997, it was a celebration for basketball fans across the country.

Of course, getting drafted is just the first step in any NBA journey. It could also very easily be the last – after all, three of the four Australians drafted back in 1997 never played a second in the NBA. With this year’s class all taken in the mid-to-late second round, they’ve got plenty of work to do before they’re secure in their future in the league.

It’s worth noting the shift in the NBA landscape with the latest collective bargaining agreement, which imposes much harsher penalties on high-spending teams. The recent trade activity of the Boston Celtics demonstrates their impact, with a team still in “the championship window” offloading contracts to avoid the second apron of spending. All of that means that cost-controlled assets, such as second round picks, are more valuable than ever; the picks spent on Australia’s newest draftees are no longer just long-odds fliers, but could ultimately be crucial to a team’s success.

It’s a long-term process for all four, so things like roster fit and playing time in their new homes would be a little premature. Still, it’s worth looking at what they do well, what they don’t, what their new teams say about them, and what the future could possibly hold for them at the highest level.