Nikola Topic made an NBA history that may never be broken.
Every time a team lifts the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a new line is etched into the NBA history books, but the Oklahoma City Thunder executed in 2025 has an extra asterisk next to it thanks to Nikola Topic.
Anyone who has followed the NBA playoffs may not recognize Topic’s name, and that’s only fair considering he didn’t play a single minute in the playoffs.
In fact, the 19-year-old didn’t play a single second for the Thunder after tearing his ACL and undergoing surgery.
However, Topic is still an NBA champion and is now the first player in NBA history to win a title without ever playing in the NBA.
It could be argued that Collin Gillespie winning a title with the Denver Nuggets without ever making the team in 2023 was the first player to accomplish the feat, but there are a few different caveats there.
Gillespie had a two-way contract and played for the Nuggets during Summer League. The subject never suited Oklahoma City and signed a four-year contract worth $23 million.
Bad news, NBA fans, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be good for a long time
The subject of not playing a single minute last season presents a scary situation for the rest of the NBA. Not only did the Thunder put together an all-time great regular season and finished the year with a championship ring, but the team’s 12th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic, was never available.
The Thunder’s already very young and very talented team will welcome a 6-foot-6 Topic to the team before he is even old enough to legally purchase an alcoholic beverage.
The rich sometimes get richer.
