THE Oklahoma City Thunder return each rotation level player from their championship season.
It’s a feat you don’t often see in the modern, transactional NBA, but the Thunder managed to maintain continuity and chemistry heading into their title defense. Dillon Jones was the only casualty of the offseason, having been traded to the Washington Wizards for a 2025 rookie.
But even more than just returning an already champion core, Oklahoma City is also adding young guard Nikola Topic to the group.
Topic was once considered one of the best players in the 2024 NBA Draft, but suffered a torn ACL during EuroLeague play that caused his stock to plummet. The ever-patient Thunder were happy to snag him at No. 12 and spent last season giving him an up-close look at a championship team.
Now OKC is tasked with assimilating a talented manager and playmaker into one of the best teams we’ve seen in some time.
Veteran Alex Caruso – the team’s most senior player – thinks Topic’s final season could help him in the long run.
“Yeah, I think the great thing about (Topic) is that it’s kind of a blessing in disguise,” Caruso said. “You get hurt like that at such a young age because you kind of learn the discipline of being a professional through that ordeal. Just to be able to come back from an injury of that nature, it takes a lot of discipline, it takes a lot of focus.
Thunder rookie Nikola Topic talks Summer League and winning an NBA title while injured. pic.twitter.com/nLuy7pX6al
– Jacob Unruh (@jacobunruh) September 29, 2025
“So I think that part is ingrained in him and will be great. Just give him confidence and try to help him learn through the fire. That’s really what it is.”
One thing is for sure: Mark Daigneault’s rotations will continue to be deep, and if Topic can find his NBA rhythm early on, he will undoubtedly earn time in the team’s system. Caruso agreed with this sentiment.
“We saw that a little bit about Ajay (Mitchell) last year, with really talented players, you’re going to get minutes because coach – Mark trusts the guys. If you’re a good player, you’re going to play. You’re going to find moments throughout the season.
“And I think for him it’s just about trying to refine his game and speed up the learning curve that comes with being a new player in the NBA.”
The Thunder will open their preseason with a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on October 5. They will next face Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets to start the regular season on October 21.
