Nikola Topić will have to wait even longer to make his NBA debut.
Topić, who missed his entire rookie campaign last season due to a torn ACL, underwent testicular surgery Monday, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced. He will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, meaning he will miss the start of the Thunder’s season. Additional details of his injury are not yet known.
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The Thunder took Topić with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from Serbia. He tore his left ACL just a few weeks ago However, before the Thunder selected him, he ended up missing the entire 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder knew this was what they expected when they drafted him and took him anyway.
Topić was widely considered a top-five pick in the draft before the injury. He averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 assists per game in the Adriatic League during the 2023-24 campaign, when he helped lead Red Star to a league championship. He also won MVP honors as Serbia also won the FIBA U18 European Championship in 2023.
Topić also played in the Thunder’s preseason win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. He had 10 points and seven assists in this contest after starting and playing 31 minutes.
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If Topić is only out for four weeks, he could return in early November. The Thunder, who just won their first championship since moving to Oklahoma, will open the regular season on October 21 against the Houston Rockets.
