ESPN insider reveals honest projection for Thunder guard Nikola Topić
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, guard Nikola Topić has impressed in a limited sample size in summer league with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Topić debuted in the Salt Lake City Summer League earlier this month, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, three rebounds and two steals in three appearances. He is posting a similar average through three games in Las Vegas, Nevada: 11 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
The 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft was highly touted out of Crvena zvezda in the ABA League. He may have been projected to be selected even higher had he come out this year, a scout recently told ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks.
"This was after the Utah Summer League ... I had a scout tell me (Topić) would have been a top-five pick in this year's draft," Marks recalled Tuesday on ESPN.
Topić was sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL suffered while playing in the ABA League Finals on May 13, 2024. He made steady progress throughout the year with the team medical staff and was cleared to debut with the Thunder in Utah.
The 19-year-old was the 2024 ABA League Top Prospect, averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field. He joined the likes of Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as past award recipients.
The Thunder appear to have identified another player who can contribute in the rotation for coach Mark Daigneault. The organization has been successful in the draft and seems to have secured its core long-term after claiming its first championship.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL on the verge of selling media assets to ESPN for an equity stake in the network, AP source says
The NFL and ESPN are expected to announce an agreement next week under which most of the league's significant media holdings will go to the sports network. People familiar with the transaction said the multibillion-dollar deal would give the NFL an equity stake in ESPN. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. It was first reported by The Athletic. The NFL and ESPN had no comment. The NFL has been trying to sell its media properties for nearly five years. ESPN and the league have been involved in on-again, off-again talks for the past three years. The proposed move comes as ESPN is expected to soon launch its direct-to-consumer service, likely before the end of August. The service would give cord cutters access to all of ESPN's programs and networks for $29.99 per month. Most cable, satellite and viewers who have streaming services will receive the service for free as part of their subscription. ESPN would get access to the popular RedZone channel, as well as NFL Network and an additional seven regular-season games (six international and a Saturday afternoon late-season contest). A couple of weeks ago, ESPN announced that NFL Network host Rich Eisen's three-hour program would air on ESPN Radio as well as stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'The Rich Eisen Show' is not affiliated with NFL Network. ESPN has carried NFL games since 1987 and 'Monday Night Football' since 2006. Under the current TV contract, it will have the 2027 and 2031 Super Bowls for the first time. NFL Network started in November 2003 and was the second major pro league to have its own network. NBA TV started in 1999, MLB Network in 2009 and NHL Network in the United States in 2007. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
NFL on the verge of selling media assets to ESPN for an equity stake in the network, AP source says
The NFL and ESPN are expected to announce an agreement next week under which most of the league's significant media holdings will go to the sports network. People familiar with the transaction said the multibillion-dollar deal would give the NFL an equity stake in ESPN. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. It was first reported by The Athletic. The NFL and ESPN had no comment. The NFL has been trying to sell its media properties for nearly five years. ESPN and the league have been involved in on-again, off-again talks for the past three years. The proposed move comes as ESPN is expected to soon launch its direct-to-consumer service, likely before the end of August. The service would give cord cutters access to all of ESPN's programs and networks for $29.99 per month. Most cable, satellite and viewers who have streaming services will receive the service for free as part of their subscription. ESPN would get access to the popular RedZone channel, as well as NFL Network and an additional seven regular-season games (six international and a Saturday afternoon late-season contest). A couple of weeks ago, ESPN announced that NFL Network host Rich Eisen's three-hour program would air on ESPN Radio as well as stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'The Rich Eisen Show' is not affiliated with NFL Network. ESPN has carried NFL games since 1987 and 'Monday Night Football' since 2006. Under the current TV contract, it will have the 2027 and 2031 Super Bowls for the first time. NFL Network started in November 2003 and was the second major pro league to have its own network. NBA TV started in 1999, MLB Network in 2009 and NHL Network in the United States in 2007. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NFL deals Red Zone, NFL Media assets to ESPN in billion-dollar agreement, the Athletic reports
(Reuters) -The NFL and Disney's ESPN have reached a deal, potentially worth billions, placing many of the league's media holdings with the sports network in exchange for equity in ESPN, the Athletic reported on Friday. ESPN is expected to have access to RedZone, NFL Network, seven more regular-season games and the NFL's fantasy football business, the report said, citing sources briefed on the agreement. There is also a possibility of integrating special features, including betting, and potentially more assets too. The four-year on-and-off discussions have led to what is said to be a complicated agreement, the Athletic report said. An official announcement is expected next week. Disney is set to report results on Wednesday. ESPN declined to comment while the NFL did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters. The news of the deal comes as Disney is set to launch its new streaming service, named ESPN, this fall, providing access to ESPN networks, including professional and college football and basketball games. The new service will cost $29.99 per month and is part of the media company's effort to tap sports fans who have never subscribed to traditional television.
