Latest news with #Topic
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sam Presti reveals 2025 Summer League status for Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber
Before Sam Presti took questions, Oklahoma City Thunder fans were handed a gift. For the sickos that watch Summer League, the OKC GM revealed that Nikola Topic will play and Thomas Sorber won't. The Thunder will play at least eight 2025 Summer League games between Utah and Las Vegas from July 5-16. This will give Topic his first chance to suit up for OKC after he was drafted with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. He missed all of last season recovering from a partially torn ACL. Meanwhile, it looks like Sorber will continue to recover from his turf toe that required surgery in February. The 19-year-old was taken with the No. 15 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. He spent a sole college season at Georgetown before he left. "We'll see when he gets out there playing in Summer League. He hasn't played 5-on-5 with, like, scoreboard, referees, people in the stands. We've got to give him some grace on that," Presti said about Topic. "But certainly excited to see him and what he offers to the team." It'll be exciting to watch Topic suit up. He had a high draft pedigree before his knee injury plummeted his draft stock. The 19-year-old will be one of the top players to watch during the summer extravaganza.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder player who made history by winning title before even playing a game
The post Thunder player who made history by winning title before even playing a game appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history in more ways than one on Sunday night. Not only did OKC win the 2025 NBA Finals in a thrilling seven-game series over the Indiana Pacers, but they also had a player make league history in a way that might never be repeated. Serbian point guard Nikola Topic officially became the first player to win an NBA title before ever stepping foot on the court in a game. Advertisement Topic, who was drafted No. 12 overall by the Thunder in the 2024 NBA Draft, spent the entire season sidelined with a partially torn ACL. While he never suited up during the Thunder's playoff run, he remained on the active roster and was part of the team throughout the campaign. The 19-year-old now enters NBA trivia books as a true outlier among rookies to secure their first championship. According to a post from HoopsHype on BlueSky, the moment was officially confirmed. 'Per our research, Nikola Topic would be the first player to win an NBA title before playing an NBA game.' Topic is no stranger to big moments. Before arriving in the NBA, he earned the 2023–24 ABA League Top Prospect Award, averaging 15.1 points and 5.9 assists across 18 appearances. The Serbian standout helped Crvena zvezda win the Adriatic League title before suffering a knee injury in May 2024, just weeks before being drafted. Advertisement After undergoing surgery in July 2024, Topic was ruled out for the entire 2024-25 NBA season. Despite never logging a single minute, his NBA journey already includes a championship ring. League rules permit all rostered players to receive rings, and Topic remained engaged with the squad during rehab and travel, providing a supportive presence behind the scenes. The title for OKC itself was historic. They became the second-youngest team in NBA history to capture the championship and did it behind a core of rising stars. Adding a fully healthy Topic next season only increases their ceiling, a defending champ who still has his debut ahead. Topic's return in 2025-26 offers a rare storyline, an NBA champion who has never stepped foot on the court. With international pedigree and elite court vision, the Thunder believe he can become a key contributor in the seasons ahead. As Oklahoma City looks to build a dynasty, one thing is certain, Topic's name will be attached to one of the most unique chapters in NBA history. Related: Thunder's Jalen Williams will 'stick to Shirley Temples' after NBA Championship win Related: Thunder's Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren in line for $247 million contract extensions
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What Thunder said about Nikola Topic and his torn ACL progress
What Thunder said about Nikola Topic and his torn ACL progress Knocking down turnaround 3-pointers, excitement continues to build around Nikola Topic. While the Oklahoma City Thunder are a win away from a championship with a 3-2 2025 NBA Finals series lead over the Indiana Pacers, the 19-year-old has other events circled on his calendar. Well over a year since he partially tore his ACL in May 2024, Topic could be on the verge of his NBA debut. He'll likely be back for the 2025 Summer League in July. That gives the Thunder at least one player to keep an eye on during the multi-week event. Topic has rehabbed his torn ACL during the 2024-25 season. He served a redshirt season that helped the Thunder land him with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. Before that, the tall playmaker was talked about as a possible top-five pick. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed Topic's progress before they collected a 120-109 Game 5 win over the Pacers. He's had a chance to get a frontrow view of a title contender and how to carry himself around as an NBA player. "It's hard to tell right now. We obviously saw him in the draft. He's exciting when you watch him on film. In terms of what he's doing right now, he's still X amount of time post-op. He's still return-to-performance. I don't think he's the player right now that he will be in training camp," Daigneault said. "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. To tear your ACL a month before the draft could be catastrophic for most prospects. Especially somebody as young as Topic. It could cost you millions as you slide down teams' boards. But Daigneault has been impressed with his mental fortitude. "When you watch somebody go through that, you can learn a lot about them. They are part of the team but they are disconnected in a lot of ways. He didn't travel on most of our trips, and he's an arm's length away a lot of the time. Yet he again approached that with great poise and professionalism," Daigneault said. "Inserted himself into the mix in a very appropriate way. 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." Even though the Thunder had a historic 68-14 regular season and are on the doorstep of an NBA championship, Topic could help fix their backup ball-handler role. That's been a struggle OKC has overcome for most of the year but could be solved with Topic's talents.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lu Dort on Nikola Topic's recovery: 'You can see the talent'
Lu Dort on Nikola Topic's recovery: 'You can see the talent' At the end of shootaround every game day morning, you can guarantee that one of the last players left on the court is Nikola Topic. The 19-year-old recently reached the anniversary of his partially torn ACL that helped the Oklahoma City Thunder add him with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. As the Thunder are four wins away from a championship in their 2025 NBA Finals matchup against the Indiana Pacers, let's not forget about their redshirt lottery pick. Before his knee injury, Topic was viewed as a possible top-five selection. The 6-foot-6 playmaker gives OKC a redo on the Josh Giddey archetype but with more promising shooting touch. While the Thunder have ruled Topic out for the season, he's reached the point in his long-term recovery process where he can ramp up the physicality level. Whether they celebrate a championship, he will be the talk of the town during the 2025 summer league. Preparing for the NBA Finals, Lu Dort had a slip of the tongue moment. He was asked about Topic and his firsthand experience of seeing him spend the year rehabbing the background of a title contender. The 19-year-old has reached a point where he can play alongside his teammates. "He's been doing a lot of his recovery stuff but you can see the talent and how much more comfortable with the ball. Recently, he started playing with us and be a little more active with us," Dort said. "He's still getting back from his injury but I can see just how comfortable with the ball and the type of player he's going to be." The Thunder have a nearly flawless roster. The one hole you can poke at is the lack of a bench playmaker. While Ajay Mitchell was sufficient in that role before his toe sprain, that was still a spot the title contender could've targeted at the trade deadline to add. In comes Topic. He could be the long-term answer. If he can be a bench ball-handler and get to the basket, that'll be another solid role player to add to the Thunder's stupidly rich depth already. Don't even get started on what he could look like if his outside shot falls.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunder Could Get Even Scarier Next Season By Adding Young Serbian Star
The Oklahoma City Thunder are already one of the most terrifying young teams in the NBA, but next season, they might become downright unstoppable. That's because Serbian phenom Nikola Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is set to make his long-awaited debut next season after recovering from a torn ACL. For the rest of the league, the scariest part is this: OKC got him with a pick from the 2019 Russell Westbrook trade. Sam Presti is still winning that deal six years later. Advertisement Topic, a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard, was once projected to go as high as No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. CBS Sports and ESPN both had him ranked in the top five before the knee injury caused his draft stock to slide. While several teams got cold feet, the Thunder saw value and snatched him at No. 12, a classic Presti move. He wasn't needed to contribute immediately, but he now enters the 2025-26 season joining a fully formed contender. What makes the addition of Topic so intriguing is that he's not joining a rebuilding team, but one that could already be in the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just won MVP. Jalen Williams is blossoming into an All-Star. Chet Holmgren is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Lu Dort is arguably the best perimeter defender in the league. Advertisement And the Thunder have a war chest of draft capital and depth, and now, another blue-chip prospect. Topic brings a different dynamic to OKC. In his best season in the Adriatic League (ABA) with Mega Basket during the 2023-24 campaign, he averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 51.5% from the field and 33.8% from three. He was the youngest player in league history to lead the ABA in assists, all while displaying advanced pick-and-roll vision, deceptive speed, and outstanding composure for a teenager. He also played briefly for Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague before his injury, where he showed flashes against top-tier competition, including a 17-point, 5-assist performance against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Even in limited minutes, scouts raved about his control of the pace and ability to make advanced reads. Advertisement His combination of size, IQ, and passing ability has drawn comparisons to a young Goran Dragic with a better frame. Assuming he returns healthy, Topic will give OKC the luxury of another oversized guard who can create for others and take pressure off SGA in ball-handling duties. He may come off the bench early, but his long-term potential suggests he'll be a major contributor as he adjusts to the NBA speed. Sam Presti's gamble may become a masterstroke. With Topic waiting in the wings, the Thunder could be adding a top-5-level talent without giving up a single asset. That's how dynasties are built by stockpiling talent before the league realizes what's coming. Next year, when the Thunder unleash Nikola Topic alongside their MVP and a loaded roster, don't say you weren't warned. The West should be very afraid. Related: Oklahoma City Thunder Currently Hold 32 NBA Draft Picks Until 2031
