Nikola Topić injury update: How is OKC Thunder rookie guard progressing from ACL tear?
It's been about 11 months since Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Nikola Topic underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Pacers on Monday, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he's been impressed with how the 2024 first-round pick has handled what is essentially a redshirt season.
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"In terms of what he's doing right now, he's still X amount of time post-op," Daigneault said. "He's still return-to-performance. I don't think he's the player right now that he will be in training camp.
"The thing that's most impressive about him to see is he's incredibly young, he's stateside for the first time, in the NBA for the first time, coming off a long-term injury and he's been unbelievably consistent and mature and professional in his approach. When you watch somebody go through that, you can learn a lot about them."
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Nikola Topic is pictured during the Thunder media day at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
The 6-foot-5, 201-pound Serbian point guard suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee in May 2024, just a month before he was drafted by OKC with the 12th pick last June. Before his injury, Topić was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
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Topić's pedigree in the EuroLeague proceeds his time in Oklahoma City.
Topić averaged 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a steal through 18 games with the Adriatic League in the 2023-24 season. He was the Adriatic League Top Prospect Award winner that year and helped Crvena zvezda win the league title.
On the international stage, he led Serbia to gold at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship while earning MVP honors.
The Thunder hasn't said whether Topić will make his debut in the NBA Summer League, set for July 10–20 in Las Vegas.
"Inserted himself into the mix in a very appropriate way," Daigneault said of Topic. "The guys really respect the way that he approaches things. He's an old soul. He's way beyond his years and so that bodes really well for him, regardless where he starts as a player on the court. That stuff translates, and he's been very impressive with that."
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More: NBA Finals roundtable: Did the Thunder learn something in Game 4 that can carry forward?
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @thejordancdavis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Nikola Topić injury update: Thunder rookie recovering from ACL tear
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