Latest news with #UtahSummerLeague
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
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
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."
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Summer League: Jazz rookie Ace Bailey drops 18 points, throws down 2 huge dunks in win over Grizzlies
Thanks to a big night from Ace Bailey, the Jazz rallied to top the Grizzlies and improve to 2-0 in the Utah Summer League. () Ace Bailey, at least so far, seems to be fitting in just fine in Salt Lake City. Bailey dropped 18 points and had seven rebounds and three assists in the Utah Jazz's 112-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in the Utah Summer League. He even threw down a huge lob after a perfect assist from Isaiah Collier in the second quarter. Bailey had 12 of his 18 points in the first half after he shot 5-of-9 from the field. He threw down another dunk in the third quarter, too, after picking up a rebound. The dunk of the night, though, belonged to teammate Kyle Filipowski. He brought the ball up the court near the midway point of the third quarter and went straight at the rim before throwing down a one-handed dunk over GG Jackson. Finally, thanks to a 13-3 run capped by a Bailey 3-pointer, the Jazz jumped out in front in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. That was enough to give them the edge the rest of the way and lead them to the one-point win, which moved them to 2-0 so far in the Utah Summer League. Advertisement Jackson led the Grizzlies with 27 points and five rebounds in the loss. Jaylen Wells added 23 points, and Cam Spencer finished with 23 points after going 7-of-10 from behind the arc. Though Bailey had a strong showing all around, it was Brice Sensabaugh who dominated for the Jazz. He put up 37 points while draining six 3-pointers and shooting 9-of-14 from the field. He came up with a huge steal in the final seconds, too. Jackson, however, hit a buzzer-beater right after that was just inside of the 3-point line — which left the Grizzlies just a point shy of forcing the extra period. The Jazz took Sensabaugh with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Ohio State, and he averaged 10.9 points and three rebounds largely off the bench last season. Cody Williams finished with 18 points for the Jazz, too, and Isaiah Collier added 13. Advertisement The game was the second Summer League action Bailey has seen so far with the Jazz. He had eight points in his debut , which came against No. 3 overall pick V.J. Edgecombe. Bailey was widely considered to be the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft earlier this summer, but he declined to work out for any franchise. In fact, he was the only American-based prospect who didn't work out for any team outside of the combine. The Jazz, however, still opted to take him fifth. Then, after a bit of awkwardness, Bailey reported to the team and declined that he had any issue with the franchise. 'Nah, not at all,' Bailey said when asked if he considered not reporting during his introductory media conference last month . 'Just blessed to be in this position I am.' Advertisement While it's still very early in Bailey's playing career — he's yet to make his debut with the franchise in a real game, after all — he's clearly off to a solid start with the Jazz organization.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder releases 2025 Summer League roster
The Oklahoma City Thunder have announced their 2025 Summer League roster. Like usual, they will participate in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas for at least eight games during the two-week extravaganza. The Utah Summer League will take place from July 5-8. The traditional Las Vegas portion will take place from July 10-20. The Thunder's full schedule can be viewed here. Thunder assistants Daniel Dixon and Connor Johnson will split the head coach duties. Dixon will coach in Utah and Johnson will coach in Las Vegas. Nikola Topic headlines the Summer League roster. The 2024 No. 12 pick will suit up for the first time after he sat out his first year recovering from a partially torn ACL. The 19-year-old is viewed as a high-end playmaking prospect. Ajay Mitchell is also another big name on the roster. While Thomas Sorber is on the roster, he won't participate. He continues to recover from foot surgery that cut his sole season at Georgetown short. Brooks Barnhizer was listed and should play. Last year's two-way players Branden Carlson and Alex Ducas will also play. The Thunder's 2025 Summer League roster can be read below: Fresh off an NBA championship, Thunder fans continue to enjoy being spoiled. Usually, the champion has little to look forward to in Summer League. But because of how stacked their draft capital is, the Thunder have a few interesting names to watch for.
