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Nikola Topic was selected as the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft 2024, which was sponsored by State Farm. Unfortunately, he had to miss the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery to address a torn ACL sustained in late May 2024, during his tenure with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet.
“Playing would have been ideal, but the experience was incredible,” he expressed during the preseason media day on Monday, reflecting on his time as a sidelined player while the Oklahoma City Thunder made their championship run.
Now medically cleared, the 20-year-old Serbian point guard made his return in the NBA 2K26 Summer League.
“I accomplished a lot of positive things,” Topic described his challenging offseason comeback. “Just being able to play the sport I cherish was wonderful. It felt strange at first—wondering, ‘What’s next? Should I sleep? Eat? When do I fit everything in? Take a nap?’ But eventually, everything fell into place, and I believe it’s only going to improve from here.”
His next goal is participating in the training camp as he prepares for his official debut with the reigning NBA champions.
“Having the opportunity to train alongside such talented players feels fantastic,” he shared during the preseason media day on Monday.
Star players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been instrumental in guiding him early in his career.
“Everyone on the team has valuable insights and advice to offer,” Topic complimented his teammates. “I’m looking forward to building relationships with them, helping them improve, and contributing to as many victories as possible for our team.”
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