The 2024-25 NBA season is nearly over, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers deep in the final series of the year.
But once the decider comes to an end, the new season will begin almost immediately, with the 2025 NBA Draft to be held just three days after a possible Finals Game 7.
Amongst the talented pool of NBA hopefuls are a solid selection of Aussie-born talent, with college stars mixed in with NBL rising talents.
Which Australians are eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft?
While it was shaping up to be an all-time Aussie draft class, the hype has dulled ever so slightly following the withdrawal of NCAA champion Alex Condon, as well as Perth Wildcats young star Ben Henshall.
However, there are still plenty of Australian talents eager to hear their names called come draft night, from first-round hopefuls to draft-and-stash possibilities.
Alex Toohey - Sydney Kings, NBL
- AGE: 21
- HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'8"/223lbs
- POSITION: F
- PROJECTED RANGE: 35-40
Alex Toohey has been the standout prospect from the NBL this season, a big but mobile forward completing his second season with the Sydney Kings.
After initially committing to Gonzaga University, Toohey instead opted to join the NBL's Next Star program, and in his sophomore season under legendary coach Brian Goorjian he saw impressive growth, looking likely to be taken in the first 40 picks.
While Toohey does not have one defining characteristic, his size and versatility could see him fit into a number of systems, and if he can bump up his three-point shooting he could become a genuinely dangerous weapon as a role player in the league.
Tyrese Proctor - Duke University, NCAA
- AGE: 21
- HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'4"/183lbs
- POSITION: G
- PROJECTED RANGE: 35-51
Once thought of as a possible top 10 pick, Proctor has seen his draft stock fluctuate dramatically, spending three years at NCAA powerhouse Duke under John Scheyer.
Proctor projects as a combo guard in the NBA, with solid defensive chops alongside a much-improved ability to shoot from outside - he went 7/8 from three against Baylor in the second round of the NCAA tournament - but there are still questions around whether he has the necessary size and burst to be a difference-maker on offence in the league.
These doubts are shown in his varied draft range, with the Aussie guard likely still a few years away from being truly impactful in the NBA.
Rocco Zikarsky - Brisbane Bullets, NBL
- AGE: 18
- HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 7'2"/227lbs
- POSITION: C
- PROJECTED RANGE: 46-55
Rocco Zikarsky is one of the biggest names in this draft class, literally, his 7-foot-2 frame and nine-foot-six standing reach seeing him stand the tallest at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.
But despite some earlier hype in his NBL career, his two years with the Brisbane Bullets were unable to propel him towards the top of this class in the way many expected, with his skill set still seeming relatively raw.
They say that you can't teach height, and Zikarsky's measurements will be tantalising for a team in the mid-to-late second round, hoping to secure what could potentially be a supereffective rim-running big, but the 18-year-old will most definitely be a project for whichever franchise decides to bring him in.
Lachlan Olbrich - Illawarra Hawks, NBL
- AGE: 21
- HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'9"/230lbs
- POSITION: F/C
- PROJECTED RANGE: 55-Undrafted
Lachlan Olbrich has been one of the late risers in this year's class; after not receiving an initial invite to the NBA Draft Combine, the newly-crowned NBL champion impressed at the G League Elite Camp and winning a call-up to the main event, where he once again was a stand-out performer.
The 21-year-old played back-up centre minutes for the Illawarra Hawks this season, featuring a unique skill set that makes him an effective inside scorer and a particularly dazzling passing big man.
However, he is undersized at 6-foot-9, and both his outside shot and defensive chops are questionable, a tough sell for NBA teams looking to bolster their frontcourt, which leaves Olbrich as a likely draft-and-stash option, similar to Luke Travers in 2022, or even going undrafted.
Reyne Smith - Louisville Cardianls, NCAA
- AGE: 22
- HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'2"/190lbs
- POSITION: G
- PROJECTED RANGE: Undrafted
It's likely that Smith will not hear his name on draft night, with the Aussie college star already preparing to begin his professional career in Europe.
Smith was one of the most impressive shooters in all college hoops, making 10 in a game against SMU to break Louisville's school record.
But at just 6-foot-2, Smith hasn't demonstrated any of the accompanying traits required to make it in the NBA at this point, and his path to the league will be as a free agent further down the road.