Thunder take EuroLeague guard Nikola Topic 12th overall
The Oklahoma City Thunder have landed EuroLeague point guard Nikola Topic with the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday.
Topic, 18, spent most of last season on loan from Red Star with Mega Basket. After his return to his home club, he helped Red Star capture both the Adriatic League championship and the Serbian League title. Topic was named the ABA's top prospect. He made his debut for the Serbian national team last August.
A left knee injury in January sidelined Topic nearly four months after his return from loan to Red Star. At the NBA combine, it was revealed that he had a partially torn ACL, limiting his participation in the event.
Bio
Position: Point guard
Club: Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 203 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-5
Max vertical: N/A
2023-24 statistics with Red Star Belgrade and Mega Basket:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 50.5 | 26.5 | 85.9 | 3.6 | 6.8 | 17.6 |
Topic is capable of running a professional offense, pulling the strings in the pick-and-roll to either get to the rim or find others for easy baskets. His percentages from three aren't pretty, but he's an elite free-throw shooter and has more consistent form when shooting off the dribble, which he will be doing more as a primary creator in the NBA.
Defensively, Topic is still a work in progress, but there's a world where he becomes good enough to stay on the floor in big moments.
NBA comparison: Goran Dragic. Topic is a big, strong, and athletic guard who relentlessly pressures the rim. While his shot isn't perfect, he's capable enough. That's especially true off the dribble, where it can become a weapon at the next level.