THE first taste of National Basketball League (NBL) action has arrived, with the Brisbane Bullets taking the chocolates in an exhibition match against the visiting California Baptist University Lancers.

It was the first of a chunk of pre-season games, that will give fans a first glimpse of what is to come in the upcoming 2023/24 NBL fixture.

The Bullets kicked things off by taking on the Lancers, who had hosted plenty of Aussie talent in the past, including the Armstrong brothers in Tre and Taran. California Baptist University were looking to get some runs into the legs of its own players, and the contrast in play styles was one of the most intriguing parts of the game heading in.

It was a one-sided affair in the end, with Brisbane having complete control of the game and looking far better than its less experienced opponent.

The game took place on the Sunshine Coast, and with 1,600 fans in attendance, the Bullets put on a show with their interior dominance.

For much of the match, the officials put the whistle away, letting plenty of contact take place inside the paint, which suited the Bullets bigs.

One of the biggest reasons for Brisbane’s success was the performance of Next Star Rocco Zikarsky.

The 17-year-old has been one of the most hyped prospects in the country, largely due to his size (he stands a whopping seven feet) and dominant junior career.

A big question surrounding the Bullets’ upcoming campaign is whether the big man’s game can convert into the NBL, given he has the raw talent to be one of the most effective talls in the competition. If Thursday’s performance is anything to go by, Zikarsky could even pinch the starting center spot off star teammate Aron Baynes, which would be a remarkable feat.

In just 20 minutes of action, he finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and six blocks, showing just what kind of impact he can have in the NBL if given the opportunity. Zikarsky justified the hype in a big way, towering over his opponents on the offensive end and combining extremely well with fellow young gun Josh Bannan to deliver a serious shot-blocking presence in the paint.

Fellow recruits Mitch Norton was also relentless in his attack on the paint, while Bannan and former Tasmania JackJumper Isaac White also performed well in their first game in Brisbane colours.

The Bullets seem poised to be one of the better defensive sides in the competition under former Melbourne United Justin Schueller, who appears determined to train his side to be extremely restrictive when giving up points, and Thursday was the perfect start.