Thunder: Nikola Topić to miss 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery for torn left ACL

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Nikola Topić will miss the 2024-25 season after undergoing a procedure to address a torn left ACL, the team announced on Wednesday.

Topić suffered the non-contact injury with Crvena zvezda on May 13 against Partizan in Game 1 of the ABA League Finals. He was initially diagnosed with a partial tear in his knee in June at a predraft camp for international prospects in Treviso, Italy.

The 12th pick previously missed four months last season due to a ligament injury in the same knee. He was projected to be a top-five pick before his latest setback.

Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topić underwent a successful procedure to address a left ACL tear, the team announced today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan Jobe Institute in Los Angeles with Thunder medical personnel present. Topić is expected to miss the 2024-25 season as part of his rehabilitation process.

Topić, who will turn 19 on Aug. 10, was named the ABA League Top Prospect after averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field last season. He joined Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as previous players to win the award.

The 6-foot-6 guard began playing professionally in Serbia at 16 years old. He is highly touted for the size he brings to the next level and his ability on offense. He projects to eventually develop into a starting-caliber guard with the Thunder.

Topić expressed his gratitude to the team for drafting him following the injury. He will now have the resources to rehabilitate with the Thunder organization, which helped Chet Holmgren recover from a Lisfranc injury two years ago.

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