ISTANBUL, Türkiye – APRIL 11: Nikola Topic, #44 of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade warms up before … (+)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2024 NBA Draft with just one selection at 12th overall. As the first part of the lottery unfolded, several surprises upended initial expectations of where players might land.
This only continued when the Thunder were on the clock, taking a prospect who has tremendous potential, but is in a very unique situation. Oklahoma City opted to take Serbian guard Nikola Topic at No. 12, who won’t make his NBA debut for some time.
A 6-foot-7 guard widely considered the best passer in this class, Topic was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft just a few months ago. Playing professionally in Serbia for Crvena Zvezda, the 18-year-old has risen through the draft ranks, demonstrating his ability to improve offense and knock away perimeter shots while also being a primary facilitator.
In January, Topic suffered a left knee injury that kept him sidelined for several months. From that point on, he made a strong comeback, but injured the same knee again in April. It was later announced that the Serbian prospect suffered a partial torn anterior cruciate ligament, which resulted in his draft value being reduced. From there, his projected pick range went from the upper end of the lottery to the second half, or even the middle of the first round.
Topic is not expected to take the floor in the upcoming season as he looks to get his knee back to full strength. As such, he could play his first game in a Thunder uniform during the NBA Summer League in 2025, or at the start of the 2025-26 season. The debut will be delayed, but it will still be a great event when it happens.
Given that Oklahoma City felt comfortable taking Topic in the lottery, there may not be much concern that the knee injury will be a long-term concern. In what will essentially be a draft and redshirt situation, he will be sidelined for the upcoming season. As we saw with Chet Holmgren two seasons ago, there are some benefits to simply staying in an NBA system for a year, even if you can’t take the floor. He will have the chance to develop chemistry off the field with his new teammates and begin to learn the Oklahoma City system.
There’s certainly some risk in a pick like this, but it’s a swing that could pay off handsomely if he returns healthy. While he wasn’t drafted to replace Josh Giddey — who was recently traded to Chicago Bulls – there are some similarities with their games.
In fact, there is a clear path for Topic to become the Thunder’s backup point guard of the future. Last season in Serbia, he averaged 18.8 points, 7.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game at just 18 years old.
It’s a long-term decision, which is entirely acceptable given that the Thunder want to be competitive over the next decade. The draft picks made around the league on Wednesday night impact franchises well beyond this upcoming season. This will be a selection that won’t be able to be truly evaluated for several years, but it will be a fascinating development.
