The decision to draft injured prospect Nikola Topic with the No. 12 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft prompted mixed reactions around the league. The 19-year-old point guard was once touted as a lock for the top five before multiple knee injuries dropped his stock significantly.
Teams have historically shied away from drafting injured players, especially those on the cusp of championship contention. However, the Thunder feel confident in their newly implemented blueprint.
While they wait for their hopeful future star to return, the Blue and Orange have the talent and pieces to contend for a championship. Once Topic returns, the plan is likely to have him slide into the vacant backup point guard spot to serve as the secondary playmaker behind superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The update on Topic
The Serbian star suffered a partially torn ACL just weeks before the 2024 NBA Draft, a huge blow and also an untimely one. However, Nikola’s confidence had to have been instantly shot back up after hearing his name called in the lottery — especially by a team that has a recent history working with Chet Holmgren — OKC’s No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, who suffered a foot injury before his rookie season.
Topic underwent successful surgery in July and is now in full rehab mode, as he aims for a healthy return to start the 2025-26 NBA season a year from now. Recently, the man who expressed his confidence in the teenage guard, Sam Presti, spoke to the media in his inaugural preseason interview to address the Thunder’s upcoming season and major storylines surrounding the franchise. The 46-year-old executive provided a critical update on Topic.
“He is doing good,” says Presti. “I saw him this morning for a little while. He has got a great mind for what it is that he is working through. ... He has got the makeup to maximize this window of time that he has. We've got a great team around him, and he certainly won't be left behind in any way. I think this can really benefit him.”
Topic carries an impressive portfolio dating back to when he played for Serbia at 16. Although he has few games under his belt, the Thunder point guard is a proven playmaker with excellent court vision and impressive skills in transition.
He is perfect for OKC’s uptempo playstyle, especially for a team that thrives off converting defensive stops to fastbreak points. While Nikola has plenty of time to recover, the Thunder will aim to use the same expertise they did with Holmgren, who sat out the entire 2022 season while rehabbing. Chet’s recovery was phenomenal, as evidenced by his stellar rookie season a year ago.
If Topic can follow a similar path, he’ll be perfectly positioned to make a name for himself in the 2025 season as the Thunder continue their push for titles.
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