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OKC Thunder picks Nikola Topic 12th in 2024 NBA Draft: What to know about Serbian guard
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- OKC Thunder picks Nikola Topic 12th in 2024 NBA Draft: What to know about Serbian guard
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Serbian guard Nikola Topic with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The 6-foot-5, 201-pound Serbian point guard has a wingspan of 6-foot-5 and averaged 28.4 minutes, 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and one steal through 18 games with the Adriatic League in 2023-24. Topic shot 50.7% from the floor, 28.6% from the 3-point line and 87% from the free-throw line.
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The guard suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee in April, but he is considered one of the best passers in this year's NBA draft class . Topic will most likely be a draft-and-redshirt pick for the Thunder.
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Nikola Topic has had success in the EuroLeague
The 18-year-old guard from Novi Sad, Siberia, has played 27 games over three seasons in the Adriatic League.
After playing just nine games from 2021-23, Nikola Topic doubled that during the 2023-24 season. During his third year with the league, he went 98 of 194 from the floor and averaged 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.
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Topic, who played 13 games with Mega before finishing out the season with Crvena zvezda, was eighth in the Adriatic League in scoring, fifth in assists and scored 20 or more points in eight games.
He was the Adriatic League Top Prospect Award winner last season and helped Crvena zvezda, which is the team he made his pro debut with at 16, win the league title. Topic was also the MVP of the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship after leading Serbia to the gold medal.
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Nikola Topic will have to recover from an injury
Before his injury, Topic was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
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Topic injured his left knee in January but was able to return to play in the spring. However, he reinjured that same knee in April, and would later announce that it was a partial ACL tear.
The guard is not expected to play during the upcoming season as he rehabs his injury, and but he could potentially play his first game for the Thunder during the 2025-26 NBA Summer League or regular season.
For Topic, the draft-and-redshirt season is similar to what OKC decided to do with the current Thunder forward Chet Holmgren after drafting him two seasons ago.
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Nikola Topic struggled at the 3-point line but is an excellent passer
Topic has struggled from the 3-point line.
During his first two years in the Adriatic League, the guard shot just one time at the 3-point line. However, he went 21 of 71 during 2023-24.
Despite the shooting slump, Topic, who was considered one of the best passers in this year's draft class, and ranked fifth in the Adriatic League in assists with 5.9 a game.
More: 2024 NBA Draft tracker: OKC Thunder picks Serbian guard Nikola Topic 12th overall
Nikola Topic falls in Thunder's 12th pick sweet spot
The Thunder have had success with the 12th pick in the NBA Draft.
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Last season OKC acquired Carson Wallace at the 12th spot and the same for Jalen Williams in 2022. It also acquired Steven Adams in 2013 with the 12th pick and Nick Collison in 2003.
Not only does Topic have ties to the Thunder with his draft spot, but he also shares a similarity with former OKC first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski who is also from Novi Sad, Siberia.
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Nikola Topic's talent runs in the family
Basketball runs in Nikola Topic's blood.
His father Milenko Topic is a head coach in the Serbian League and won the gold medal for Yugoslavia in the 1998 FIBA World Cup and the silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
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Topic can potentially serve as OKC's lone pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The second round will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder picks Nikola Topic 12th in 2024 NBA Draft
