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USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN insider reveals honest projection for Thunder guard Nikola Topić
Bobby Marks relays a scout told him Nikola Topic would've been a top 5 pick in the 2025 Knueppel was drafted #4, Ace Bailey at #5 and Tre Johnson at # After missing all of last season with a knee injury, guard Nikola Topić has impressed in a limited sample size in summer league with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Topić debuted in the Salt Lake City Summer League earlier this month, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, three rebounds and two steals in three appearances. He is posting a similar average through three games in Las Vegas, Nevada: 11 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals. The 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft was highly touted out of Crvena zvezda in the ABA League. He may have been projected to be selected even higher had he come out this year, a scout recently told ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. "This was after the Utah Summer League ... I had a scout tell me (Topić) would have been a top-five pick in this year's draft," Marks recalled Tuesday on ESPN. Topić was sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL suffered while playing in the ABA League Finals on May 13, 2024. He made steady progress throughout the year with the team medical staff and was cleared to debut with the Thunder in Utah. The 19-year-old was the 2024 ABA League Top Prospect, averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field. He joined the likes of Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as past award recipients. The Thunder appear to have identified another player who can contribute in the rotation for coach Mark Daigneault. The organization has been successful in the draft and seems to have secured its core long-term after claiming its first championship.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder: Nikola Topić earns recognition for debut in Salt Lake City Summer League
Thunder PR:Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topić earned 2025 SLC Summer League Standout Honors for their performances during the three-day, six-game event. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić was named a Salt Lake City Summer League standout for his performance during the three-day, six-game event. Topić averaged 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, three rebounds and two steals on 30.6% shooting from the field in three appearances at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. He finished in double figures twice, including a 14-point, four-assist effort on Saturday. The 19-year-old was honored along with teammate Ajay Mitchell, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, Philadelphia 76ers players VJ Edgecombe and Judah Mintz, and Utah Jazz players Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh. Topić missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL suffered while playing with Crvena zvezda in the ABA League Finals on May 13, 2024. He made steady progress throughout the year and was cleared to debut with the Thunder in Utah. The Thunder will play at least five games in the NBA Summer League, beginning on Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada (5:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2). It is unclear how many games Topić will play, but it stands to reason that the team won't overwork him after missing all of last year. Topić was the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft after averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field in Serbia. He was the ABA League Top Prospect, joining Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as past award recipients.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault offers rehab update on Nikola Topić
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault offers rehab update on Nikola Topić Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said this week that rookie Nikola Topić is currently on track in his rehabilitation from offseason surgery to repair a torn left ACL. Topić suffered the non-contact injury with Crvena zvezda last season on May 13 against Partizan in Game 1 of the ABA League Finals. He underwent surgery on July 24 and was ruled out of playing for the entire season by the Thunder. The 19-year-old has attacked his recovery daily and continues to reach various benchmarks in his return to the court. He is impressing his teammates and coaches in the process. "He is on track with everything he is supposed to be doing on the timeline that he should be on," Daigneault said. "He has done a really impressive job of keeping his head down. As a basketball player, he has gone a long time without playing games, and that is tough, especially when you're a rookie. You want to establish yourself in the NBA and test yourself, and he probably wants to know what translates and what doesn't." Topić was the 12th pick in the NBA draft after averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field last season. He was the ABA League Top Prospect, joining Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as past award recipients. The 6-foot-6 guard began playing professionally in Serbia at 16 years old. He is highly touted for the size he brings to the next level and his offensive ability. He projects to eventually develop into a starting-caliber guard with the Thunder once he is cleared to play. Topić thanked the team for drafting him following the injury. He has committed to improving throughout his recovery and appears to be off to a good start with the organization. "He has been very consistent with his work and has shown a great level of professionalism, maturity and work ethic through this time," Daigneault said. "He is very, very steady, both in his approach and mentally. He has been very impressive in that way. As he continues to uptick what he can do, that is exciting. He is a really good player that has made a very, very strong first impression with his approach to his rehab."
