After declining an invitation to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, Red Star guard Nikola Topic apparently suffered a knee injury. Game 1 of the ABA League Finals.
The 18-year-old was helped off the pitch following an awkward landing, heading towards the changing rooms after lying on the ground for a few moments. Although ruled out for the remainder of the game, he returned to the sideline rather than immediately getting further imaging. Characterized as a “non-contact left knee injury,” Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops notes that “a setback on the same knee in January forced (Subject) to be on the injured list for nearly four months.”
Nikola Topic suffers injury
The topic is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, he’s built in the mold of a giant-sized point guard like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Indeed, Gilgeous-Alexander could be an apt comparison for the Serbian playmaker given his passing ability and scoring potential.
Averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.8 minutes per game, Topic is at his best downhill. That’s partly because he’s a streaky outside shooter despite his deep range. However, a lot of that is because he knows how to use his size to score inside the arc.
Either way, the subject’s injured state would have been worth monitoring. With the 2024 NBA Draft only a month away, this is especially important. He wouldn’t be the first promising player to fall down draft boards due to injury concerns.
However, this is what is considered one of the weaker versions. Therefore, Topic could very well remain stable as a lottery prospect, even with a less than ideal medical history. At this point, several teams drafted in the 1-14 range need an upgrade at the point guard position, such as the San Antonio Spurs.
Nikola Subject to Spurs?
The Spurs have two picks (No. 4, No. 8) in the lottery. The subject can be a natural choice for them.
To begin with, Topic fills a need. San Antonio has largely played without a starting point guard in 2023-24. While Tre Jones“Basketball IQ and playmaking were appreciated, his lack of size ran counter to the Spurs’ approach. Nearly half a foot taller than Jones, Topic won’t have that problem.
Additionally, as a rebuilding team, San Antonio is more likely to keep its lottery pick. rather than taking the plunge just because a star may be available. Rookie of the year 2024, Victor Wembanyamalooks like he’ll be the face of the league and the Spurs need to be smart who they put around him. Like a newborn, the Frenchman is currently a sponge, and a bad star could darken his bright future.
Finally, because of San Antonio’s history with foreign-born players and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich’s Serbian roots, Topic may be more comfortable with their organization than any other. When it comes to their development, overcoming any language barriers can flatten their learning curve. Although Popovich is only fluent in English, he has a slight command of Serbian.
