Nikola Topic Eager to Shine as He Prepares for a Comeback with the Thunder

Nikola Topic was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm. Unfortunately, he had to sit out the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery to mend a torn ACL, an injury he sustained in late May 2024 during his final days with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet.

“It would have been even better if I could have been on the court, but the experience itself was incredible,” he remarked during the preseason media day on Monday, reflecting on his time on the injury list while the Oklahoma City Thunder made their championship run.

Now medically cleared, the 20-year-old Serbian point guard made his return to competitive play in the NBA 2K26 Summer League.

“I accomplished quite a few positive things,” Topic recounted, describing his challenging offseason comeback. “Being able to play the game I adore was fantastic. At first, it felt strange, like, ‘What do I do now? Should I sleep? Eat? Take a nap?’ But eventually, everything got back to normal, and I believe it will continue to improve.”

His next milestone toward officially stepping onto the court with the reigning NBA champions is training camp.

“Having the opportunity to play alongside such talented individuals and being part of the team feels incredible,” he said during the Monday media session.

Prominent players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been invaluable in guiding him at the start of his career.

“There’s a lot of wisdom among my teammates, and everyone has their own insights to share,” Topic noted appreciatively. “I’m eager to connect with them, help them improve, and do my part to secure as many victories for the team as possible.”