NBL1 alumni fulfil NBA dreams

The 2025 NBA Draft has concluded, with four NBL1 alumni having their dream turned into reality when they were selected in Friday’s second round.

NBL Next Stars Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey, as well as Tyrese Proctor and Lachlan Olbrich will now aim to make their mark on basketball’s biggest stage.

NBL1 TO THE NBA ?

Australian and former Centre of Excellence guard Tyrese Proctor has been selected with the #49 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers ? pic.twitter.com/SmOY7gZtTv

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 27, 2025

Taken at Pick 45 by the Minnesota Timberwolves (via the Chicago Bulls), 18-year-old big man Rocco Zikarsky averaged 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds over seven games for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (CoE), before heading to the Brisbane Bullets as an NBL Next Star. The Timberwolves have picked up one of the most exciting young players in the country, and his continued development will be amazing to watch.

The Cleveland Cavaliers followed soon after, selecting Tyrese Proctor with Pick 49. Proctor averaged 15 points, 2.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds across nine NBL1 outings for the CoE in the 2022 season. Making the move to the Duke Blue Devils following his NBL1 stint, Proctor has shown plenty of promise, and the Cavaliers have an extremely versatile prospect on their hands.

NBL Next Star Alex Toohey made his way to the Golden State Warriors next, being selected with Pick 52 in the draft. Off the back of a fantastic year with the Sydney Kings, NBL Next Generation Award winner Toohey has the potential to become a valuable asset for the Warriors as he continues to develop his outstanding versatility. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the CoE in the 2023 NBL1 season.

Rounding out the quartet, Illawarra Hawks big man Lachlan Olbrich was selected by the Chicago Bulls with Pick 55 in the draft (via the Los Angeles Lakers). Olbrich played one game for the CoE in the Waratah League, and two games for the NBL1 Central’s Southern Tigers in 2021. He then starred in his return to the Tigers for the 2022 season, winning the Frank Angove Award and being named to the All-Star Five, before heading to the West Adelaide Bearcats in 2023 and winning Finals MVP as his side claimed the 2023 NBL1 Central title.

NBL1 General Manager Dean Anglin expressed pride when speaking about the role that the NBL1 system has played in developing these prospects and how it will continue to play an important part in the growth of future talents.

"Seeing this number of NBL1 almuni drafted to the NBA is a testament to our clubs, our conferences and the pathway that NBL1 provides for athletes at every stage of their career," Anglin said.

"The NBL1, created by our clubs, has nurtured a new generation of athletes and we cannot wait to see them succeed at the highest level."