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Transitioning from the Salt Lake City Summer League where rising star Nikola Topic made his debut, the Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off the NBA 2K26 Summer League with a 90-81 win against the Brooklyn Nets at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Belgian player Ajay Mitchell led the scoring with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, alongside five rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block. Serbian newcomer Nikola Topic contributed 18 points, six assists, four rebounds, and one steal to the team’s success.
“It’s always a challenge to recover from such an injury, but I think he’s done remarkably well,” said the 23-year-old Mitchell, commending his teammate’s resilience following surgery for a torn ACL.
“I feel good now. The start was a bit challenging, especially with the back-to-back games; it felt unusual,” Topic responded regarding his adjustment after missing the entire 2024-25 season.
Outside of the Summer League, this European duo could play a significant role in the Thunder’s second unit in the upcoming NBA Regular Season.
“Playing with him is effortless,” Topic said of teaming up with Mitchell. “He’s an outstanding player, especially at point guard. He can bring the ball up court, play without the ball, and execute pick and rolls. He truly excels at what he does.”
“This is our first time being on the court together, and it’s fantastic to learn how to mesh with his style of play. It’s a valuable experience for me, and I really enjoy it,” Mitchell added.
When asked what impressed him the most about Topic, Mitchell emphasized, “His basketball IQ. The way he finds his teammates and controls the tempo is exceptional, especially for someone his age.”
Before being selected by the Thunder as the 12th overall pick, Topic had an impressive stint with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet, where he also gained experience through various loan spells. This exposure to seasoned opponents helped him refine his skills significantly.
“They taught me to think strategically, to always anticipate two steps ahead. I aim to outsmart my opponents,” he reflected on how his past experiences prepared him for both the Summer League and the NBA.
The Thunder featured Dutch player Malevy Leons as a starter Thursday, while the Nets began with Frenchman Nolan Traore, British player Tosan Evbuomwan, Israeli Danny Wolf, and Russian Egor Demin, with Ben Saraf from Israel coming off the bench.
In other Summer League news, German Tristan da Silva scored a game-high 19 points as the Orlando Magic narrowly lost to the Sacramento Kings, 84-81, in Pavilion.
Photo Credit: YouTube
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