Latest news with #Topic
USA Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ousmane Dieng, Nikola Topic to play for France, Serbia in 2025 FIBA EuroBasket
As the league is in the driest part of their calendar, the Oklahoma City Thunder will have some viewing interest in August. The NBA champion will have a couple of players who hope to contribute to their home country in the 2025 EuroBasket. It will be the 42nd edition of the EuroBasket championship. FIBA organizes the men's basketball tournament. Ousmane Dieng was listed on France's roster and Nikola Topic was listed on Serbia's roster. It remains to be seen how large a role either plays, considering how stacked each roster is. The 2025 EuroBasket will take place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 14. 24 teams will participate and be split into four groups. Once group play is over, 16 teams will advance to the knockout tournament. The reigning EuroBasket champion is Spain, which won it in 2022. It'll be a light roster for France as several headliners will sit out due to injuries. Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Bilal Coulibaly, Guerschon Yabusele and Moussa Diabate join Dieng as the only NBA players on the initial 18-player extended roster. The 22-year-old has a chance to play real minutes, looking at their roster. Meanwhile, Serbia enters with a stacked roster. Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Tristan Vukcevic and Nikola Jovic join Topic as the only NBA players on the initial 18-player extended roster. It's tough to see the 19-year-old get much playing time considering this. It's always fun to see Thunder players suit up for their home country in international play. That's happened the last two summers with the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Now, Topic and Dieng could keep OKC fans busy in what is otherwise the slowest month of the year.
USA Today
27-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder Mailbag: Could Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic see time in G League next year?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacation for the next couple of months before training camp starts. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell. Both young guards will battle for the backup point guard spot. There's only a finite number of minutes to hand out. Could one, if not both, see time on the G League's OKC Blue next season? The answer is probably — at least for one of them. Mitchell was the rare two-way player who never played in the G League last season. Instead, he got off to a hot start and penciled his way into the rotation. Before the Thunder had a chance to send him down, toe surgery knocked him out for three months of the regular season. By the time Mitchell returned, the G League season was over. While the 23-year-old dominated the 2025 Summer League, there's still a decent chance he suits up for the Blue at least once on an assignment this upcoming year. The regular season is long enough, and Mark Daigneault frequently changes his rotations. Those two variables combined could cause Mitchell to go a couple of weeks without any real run. The best solution to that is short G League stints at home. Just for Mitchell to keep his legs warm. That's a strategy the Thunder have utilized for years. Sharing an arena and team system makes assignments and recalls as seamless as possible. Now Topic, on the other hand, seems prime to be a player who could spend plenty of time on the Blue. The 19-year-old will need time to develop — especially after being out his first year with a torn ACL. There's only so much a practice or shootaround can do for you. Live 5-on-5 reps against opponents is the best way to ensure a player learns and strengthens their weaknesses. The Thunder drafted Topic with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft, knowing he'd be a long-term project. Finally being cleared to play, part of that involves time with the Blue. It's a luxury the NBA champion is afforded because of their rich depth and not needing a rookie to contribute for them to succeed. While Mitchell looks ready to contribute right now, Topic looks like he still needs his training wheels. Which is to be expected, considering the four-year age gap between the players. The 19-year-old could benefit from spending time with the Blue and a low-pressure environment where mistakes aren't as loud as they are at the NBA stage. The Thunder are known as one of the NBA's best developmental programs. The Blue has played a large part in that. They've squeezed every drop of juice out of their G League affiliate and have turned it into a true farm system akin to baseball. Topic and Mitchell could be the latest players who could benefit from some time with the Blue this upcoming season. The former more than the latter.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA scout believes Nikola Topic would've been a top-5 pick in 2025 NBA draft
Usually, the Summer League is a snoozer for the NBA champions. A couple of weeks after carrying around the Larry O'Brien trophy, what happens in Las Vegas feels like peanuts in comparison. But to further show why the Oklahoma City Thunder aren't your average title winner, they had a few blue-chip prospects to look forward to. After his redshirt season, Nikola Topic finally played for the Thunder. The 19-year-old missed his first year recovering from a partially torn ACL. That dropped him to the No. 12 spot of the 2024 NBA draft. He became the first player in NBA history to win a ring before he logged a stat. Topic hopes to be more than an answer to a fun trivia question, though. He could fix the Thunder's backup point guard woes that slowed the offense down when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was off the floor. It almost cost them an NBA championship, but just because you won it, doesn't mean you can't improve spots on your roster. Through six Summer League games, Topic has shown promise. He had a slow start that was expected after he was out for over a year. But the more miles he adds to his legs, the more comfortable he looks. The playmaking potential has shown with wild reads that only gifted passers can make. ESPN's Bobby Marks recently joined a Summer League broadcast and talked about Topic. While in Salt Lake City, the NBA expert revealed an interesting anecdote he had with an NBA scout about Topic and his hypothetical fit in this year's draft class. "This was after the Utah Summer League, I talked to a scout and I asked him if Topic was in this year's draft, where would he go," Marks said. "... I had a scout tell me he would've been a top-five pick in this year's draft." Oh, boy. That's exciting to hear if you're the Thunder. For reference, the top-five picks were Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey. Just the latest example of how they can keep their title window open longer than most. They were gifted Topic from the Houston Rockets. Just like they were with Thomas Sorber from the Miami Heat. Those types of scenarios aren't slowing down, either. The rest of the 2020s could see other NBA franchises give the Thunder their high first-round picks because of deals they made five years ago. That's how you build a sustainable contender. Bobby Marks on Nikola Topic: "I had a scout tell me that he would have been a top 5 pick in this year's draft"
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Player grades: Thunder still undefeated in Vegas with 92-75 Summer League win over Magic
Receiving a catch-and-shoot look from Nikola Topic, Branden Carlson didn't take long to make up for lost time as he swished in a top-of-the-key look. Usually, at this juncture of the Summer League, not much interest is left. All the top players and most fans have left. But flexing its ridiculous depth, OKC is an exception. The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 92-75 Summer League win over the Orlando Magic. They remain undefeated at Las Vegas with a 3-0 record and have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. As the gyms get emptier with each passing day in Vegas, this is where the basketball sickos show out. The Magic were without Tristan da Silva and Jase Richardson, but the Thunder saw Carlson suit up for the first time. OKC held a 17-15 lead after the first quarter. Orlando struggled to score without a true top option. Carlson continued a hot start in the second quarter. He knocked down an early outside bucket to give the Thunder momentum. They built some distance on the scoreboard, but the Magic slowly chipped away. OKC scored the last nine points of the half as Nikola Topic feathered in a floater. The Thunder scored 25 points in the second frame and entered halftime with a 42-34 lead. The short break didn't disrupt their flow. Carlson was fouled on a corner 3-pointer he swished in. That helped them get up by 52-37 less than two minutes into the third frame. Backed by Ajay Mitchell's relentless drives to the basket, the Thunder scored 31 points in the third quarter. They held a 73-61 lead over the Magic. The fourth quarter turned skippable as OKC scored 19 points. Broadcast member Isiah Thomas couldn't stop gushing over Carlson and how he landed on the NBA champion's lap. The Thunder shot 44% from the field and went 7-of-26 (26.9%) from 3. They shot 15-of-16 on free throws. They had 18 assists on 35 baskets. Three Thunder players scored double-digit points. Mitchell led the way with 27 points and seven rebounds. Carlson had 23 points and seven rebounds. Topic finished with eight points and six assists. Malevy Leons had 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. Meanwhile, the Magic shot 32% from the field and went 9-of-36 (25%) from 3. They shot 24-of-26 on free throws. They had 15 assists on 21 baskets. Five Magic players scored double-digit points. Ethan Thompson had 16 points and four rebounds. Wendell Moore Jr. finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Nate Santos had 11 points. Skal Labissiere and Johnell Davis each scored 10 points to round up Orlando's top scorers. The deeper the Thunder get into the Summer League, the more fun their games get. They remain undefeated in Las Vegas and have a legitimate shot at making the four-team knockout playoff. This time, Carlson's return after being out for the entire July event was worth watching. Mitchell and Topic also had their moments as the starting backcourt. Let's look at Thunder player grades: Branden Carlson: A-plus Running a pick-and-roll with Topic, Carlson showed off his hops when he jumped in the air and threw down the alley-oop. Everybody has talked about how much better the former would look with a seven-footer. The latter showed why those talks were right as they cosplayed as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Carlson finished with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and seven rebounds. He shot 4-of-6 from 3 and went 1-of-1 on free throws. He also had two blocks. An ankle injury cost Carlson the beginning of the Summer League. He sat out the Thunder's first five games but was productive when he signed a two-way deal in that absence. The 26-year-old showed off why they were so determined to keep him on their roster when they tendered a qualifying offer. Against a short-handed Magic squad, Carlson made up for lost time. He dominated at every spot on the floor. The stretch big was a textbook kick-out option and the seven-footer's size helped him finish through a packed paint with dunks. The Thunder have given fans reasons to watch these final Summer League games. Carlson flashed throughout last season and dominated in the G League. His combination of size and shooting caused the broadcast to spend most of the second half wondering why nobody else saw his talent as a 2024 undrafted player. Ajay Mitchell: A-plus Battling through several defenders, Mitchell banked his layup in and heard a whistle. An and-one bucket caused the 23-year-old to celebrate the move as he turned in another efficient scoring performance to lead the Thunder. Mitchell finished with 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. He shot 1-of-2 from 3 and went 8-of-9 on free throws. He also had two steals and one block. Hearing all Summer League long that he was simply too good to participate in the two-week event, Mitchell saved his best performance for his possible last game. The drive-heavy scorer found lanes to the basket. He muscled his way past traffic and had enough touch to score or draw a whistle. That's been a theme in the Thunder's Summer League. Mitchell has grown as a scorer. He entered the event as the undisputed best player and took advantage of the extra on-ball reps to look eerily similar to his teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The high free-throw attempt numbers have been consistent enough to hope it translates over to next season. Not much else is left to prove for Mitchell in this environment. Maybe he keeps playing just because. The Thunder could earn a playoff nod and be one of the four teams that advance to the knockout stage. But this is already a successful July. Nikola Topic: B-minus Helping swing the ball around, Topic has darted the ball to outside shooters in skinny passing lanes. He was also as surgical as the pick-and-roll handler with a couple of connections. As he gains more confidence, it shouldn't be a shocker to see OKC's offense look better with the 19-year-old calling the shots. Topic finished with eight points on 4-of-12 shooting, six assists and five rebounds. He shot 0-of-2 from 3. He also had two steals. Because of Mitchell and Carlson, the Thunder didn't need Topic to step up as a scorer. Instead, he kept the ball moving and played within the flow. He had five turnovers, but you'll eat that if it means the 2024 lottery pick flexes his passing skills. What Topic did here can easily be replicated in the regular season. Playing with a seven-footer further unlocked what he could do as a playmaker. Now, imagine those rolls being run by Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein. He showed off some of his scoring touch with his floater and picked his spots to score. We'll see how much longer Topic plays in the Summer League, but this has been a successful trip. He was the Thunder's most important player after he missed the last year with a partially torn ACL. After some initial rust, the 19-year-old looked more comfortable with some miles on his legs. Brooks Barnhizer: C After another stop, Barnhizer threw down a transition dunk in the final minutes that forced the Magic to call a timeout. Both teams cleared their benches as the jam was the punctuation mark. Barnhizer finished with eight points on 2-of-5 shooting, three assists and two rebounds. He shot 4-of-4 on free throws. He also had a steal. The Thunder locked down the short-handed Magic. Barnhizer played a role in that. He will make his name on that side of the ball. Besides that, not a whole ton else to write about the two-way player's performance. He remained in the starting lineup despite some changes and showed why he can play with any combination of players. It's been a solid Summer League for Barnhizer. His best games were in Las Vegas. He's racked up a historic number of steals and has shown some off-ball saviness to make up for his lack of shot. The 23-year-old will likely spend most of his rookie year in the G League. Highlights:
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nikola Topic talks Summer League playmaking skills: 'I'm just born with it'
As the final seconds ticked away, Nikola Topic lofted over a one-handed pass across the court to a step-ahead Ajay Mitchell. The starting backcourt connected again for a deep-pass assist that resulted in a transition layup before the third quarter expired. Topic finished with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting, 10 assists and one rebound. He shot 1-of-1 from 3 and went 2-of-2 on free throws. He also had two steals. The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Indiana Pacers in a 104-85 Summer League win. It was a blowout victory where everybody chipped in. It was another step in the right direction for Topic. The deeper Topic plays in the Summer League, the more comfortable he's looked. This was the best he's looked as a playmaker. Some daring passes resulted in buckets for his teammates. He was also sharp in his textbook reads, as his teammates learned to get open from the outside to be fed the ball. The 19-year-old needed some time to knock off any rustiness from a torn ACL. That was clear through his three Utah Summer League games. Now you're seeing what he looks like when he gains steam. The Thunder offense caught fire once he was in the driver's seat. "I think just confidence-wise, I feel more confident. Going into a game, sleeping before a game," Topic said on his Summer League experience. "Just everything about that, I feel way more confident." If you're the Thunder, you have to like what you've seen from Topic. He looks capable of running the second-unit offense when needed. He could bring an element as a creative and talented passer that the NBA champion lacked last season. "I guess I'm just born with it," Topic said about his passing. "I learned a lot growing up. Played a lot against older players. Had my dad by my side and played against older playmakers having by my side to be my mentor. So I'd say all of that."
