Nikola Topić NBA Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Thunder Roster
June 27, 2024
The Oklahoma City Thunder landed one of the top international prospects in the 2024 NBA draft, selecting Serbian point guard Nikola Topić with the 12th pick.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Nikola Topić
Position: PG
Height: 6'6"
Pro Comparison: Goran Dragic
Scouting Report: There haven't been many teenagers as productive as Topić was in the Adriatic, where used his 6'6" size, ball-handling, vision and finishing crafty to score and play-make. His shot was inconsistent, and he lacks standout athletic traits, but Topić still has clear shotmaking range and the tools and instincts to compensate for limited explosiveness.
Nikola Topić, PG: Rookie-scale contract
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG: $35.9M (2027)
Luguentz Dort, SG: $16.5M (2027)
Chet Holmgren, C: $10.9M (2026)
Josh Giddey, SG: $8.3M (2025)
Kenrich Williams, SF: $6.7M (2027)
Cason Wallace, PG: $5.6M (2027)
Ousmane Dieng, SG/SF: $5M (2026)
Jalen Williams, SG: $4.8M (2026)
Jaylin Williams, C: $2M (2026)
Adam Flagler, G: Two-way (2025)
Gordon Hayward, SF: UFA
Isaiah Joe, SG: Club option
Aaron Wiggins, SG: Club option
Lindy Waters III, SF: Club option
Bismack Biyombo, C: UFA
Mike Muscala, C: UFA
Keyontae Johnson, SF: RFA
Olivier Sarr, C: RFA
TyTy Washington Jr., PG: RFA
Topić made a name for himself by leading Serbia to a gold medal at the U18 European Championships in 2023. He started the 2023-24 season at Mega MIS and averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists across 13 games before transferring to Crvena Zvezda in December for the chance to play in EuroLeague games.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a knee injury. and he was found to have a partially torn ACL when he went through his NBA medical examination. Still, his youth makes him an attractive prospect with a bright future. Once he's fully healthy, he can develop into a key contributor for Oklahoma City in his rookie year.
The 18-year-old is a ball-dominant guard who excels at attacking the rim and making plays for himself and his teammates. At 6'6", Topić has a size advantage over most other point guards, and it makes him a reliable finisher around the basket. He has areas to improve like his three-point shooting and his defense, but he has the skills to develop into an effective primary ball-handler.
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