2024 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Nikola Topic

We really don’t know what will happen in 2024 NBA Draft. The race for number 1 is wide open. So open, in fact, that we should pay special attention to “unconventional” perspectives. Nikola Topic is a 6-foot-6 point guard from Serbia with a shaky jumper and a poor reputation on defense. And yes, it’s him Prospect #1 on the FanSided board.

NBA teams are going to think outside the box more than ever during this draft cycle. European perspectives are often not respected in American circles. We’ve seen several front offices turn into pretzels to avoid taking Luka Doncic, one of the most productive and accomplished European teenagers of all time, at No. 1 overall.

The subject won’t wow viewers at home with vertical displays of athleticism. He doesn’t necessarily fit the common aesthetic we associate with future elite guards. The pull-up pull-up doesn’t really exist. He’s infinitely crafty, but he won’t let a defender like Kyrie Irving down.

He’s not your standard top pick, but with so little certainty about other high-end prospects, it’s hard to ignore Topic’s raw production overseas. The 18-year-old started his season with Mega MIS, Serbia’s most famous prospect pipeline. He excelled against professional competitionaveraging 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 13 games.

After his stellar start to the season, Topic was called up to KK Crvena Zvezda of the Euroleague to compete at the highest level of professional basketball outside of the United States. He started strong, but an untimely knee injury sidelined Topic just a few games into his time at Red Star. .

Despite the sprained knee, Topic seems to be hovering atop the draft boards all season. For the right team, he’s the perfect No. 1 bet: a talented ball handler who compromises defenses and creates for his teammates.

Height: 6 feet 6 inches
Weight: 200 pounds
Date of birth: August 10, 2005
Position: Point guard/Shooting guard
Offensive role: Main creator
Defensive role: Wing
Projected draw range: 1-10

When it comes to projecting stardom to the next level, the most important “trait” – and trait is a broad term here, as it can have a myriad of meanings – is a player’s ability to create. benefits. Stardom itself is a broad term, but with point guards in particular, it stands to reason that you need to be able to generate offense from scratch. Not just to organize designed pieces and “set the table,” so to speak. A star point guard must be able to single-handedly break down the cracks in an established defense.

Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman did the rather bold comparison to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That’s a high bar to set, but the Topic’s size, finishing touch, and shifting comfort all align with SGA on an archetypal level. SGA leads the NBA in drives per game. If Topic gets the minutes and touches, he will also fall to the top of these rankings.

The subject is an absolute handful who leads the way. It can accelerate in the blink of an eye, blessed with a dynamic first step and an uncanny sense of when to hit the turbo button. He can just as easily knock defenders off balance with nervous handles, working patiently to find the right angle to the rim.

He still has room to grow as a facilitator, but Topic’s ability to put both feet in the paint and collapse a defense has a ton of value. It will locate open guns and use its gravity to locate knives at the edge. He is a smart and savvy playmaker. When it comes to creators’ legitimate bets in the 2024 class, none can really touch the point.

Despite the many, many positives, Topic presents a few red flags that will scare NBA teams. It starts with the 3-point shot. The subject can reach 3, especially spotting, but its shape is stiff and there is little pulling play to speak of. This also translates to mid-range. Topic can hit runners and hit shots in the paint, but he generally needs to get to the rim to be effective. If NBA teams aren’t worried about him on the perimeter, it’s not hard to connect the dots. Defenses will charge the paint and force Topic to beat them from the outside. He’s fast, but he’s not Ja Morant, unstoppable fast. The subject must deserve respect within a 3 point range.

The subject is also not vertical. It will rely on touch and craftsmanship around the basket. I’m confident Topic’s rim finish will translate, but there’s still a lingering worry that NBA athleticism and shot blocking will impact a prolific prospect under the rim more than expected.

Also… defense. The subject is not a good defender. There’s not much to do. He’s stiff in space, he doesn’t provide consistent effort at the point of attack and he doesn’t have the strength to handle more physical scorers at 6-foot-6. He’s going to be stuck between two positions on defense at the next level. He needs to add some muscle and work on fighting for screens. The basketball IQ is there, so all hope is not lost. But Topic is going to enter the NBA with an iffy jumper and a mediocre defensive profile, so there’s a lot to overcome before delivering on the No. 1 hype.

Flaws and all, Nikola Topic is a standout prospect in the 2024 class. He has been productive at the highest levels of professional basketball in Europe. He constantly plays against grown men, and his skills as a creator have innate value – a advantage Creator. This is the age of great arrhythmic ball handlers. It’s hard to look at SGA or Tyrese Haliburton and not feel better about Topic’s future, even though he’s not at that level as a prospect.

Topic’s underrated skill set will eventually win over the skeptics. It will take the right team to fully unleash Topic’s impact early on, but he is a high-level guard who will constantly invade the teeth of the defense and locate shooters. His floor is relatively high, although his ceiling is linked to concerns regarding his jumper and defense.