This weekend, the 2025 NBA predraft process begins in earnest. This is an intensely competitive period for young and hopeful basketball stars who must ready themselves for the looming NBA Draft. The NBA Draft Combine, in Chicago, is around the corner. Approximately 124 players will be on the court, including many of the top prospects in the Class of 2024 like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen and Walter Clayton Jr. For most athletes that’s a major misstep. It’s their one shot to shine their skills right in front of hundreds of NBA execs, coaches, owners and agents.
One of the most interesting participants is New Bedford Rocco Zikarsky, who is easily the tallest player invited to the combine. At only 18 years old, Zikarsky is a very promising young goalkeeper. He’s able to wow teams and show them that he’s worthy of a developmental investment. Despite experiencing a stagnant second season in the National Basketball League (NBL), where his minutes increased but his production declined, Zikarsky remains hopeful. There is still time for the young 7-footer to become more comfortable with his body and develop his game further.
The combine is one of the most important players’ opportunities to enhance their NFL draft stock. Many athletes look to emulate the success of recent NBA players such as Jalen Williams, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Nembhard, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Huerter, and Donte DiVincenzo, who significantly improved their draft positions after performing well at previous combines.
Scheduled for June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the NBA Draft will be the culmination of this predraft process. This year’s best prospects will do it in front of NBA scouts at the G League Elite Camp. After adding impact players like Malique Lewis, Amari Williams, Caleb Love, and Caleb Grill, Yanic Konan Niederhauser must be considered recruits who are primed to play immediately. From those scrimmages, the five to eight best performers will receive invitations to the NBA Draft Combine. This great opportunity they’ll have later in the week!
Over recent years, many players who were late second-round picks or faced the risk of going undrafted have opted not to participate in the scrimmages. This worrying trend is a perfect example of how important it is to protect your draft stock. Doing badly might risk the chance of future auditions.
As the combine rolls in, teams are bracing themselves for what has been widely deemed the unofficial start to free agency. With the informal window for free agency opening on June 30th, franchises have started to make moves and set the stage for major trades.
Leave a Reply