Nikola Topic Looks Forward to Thriving After Injury Setback with 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 repair a torn ACL, which he sustained in late May 2024, during his time with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet.

Reflecting on his experience during the preseason media day on Monday, he expressed, “It might have been even better if I had been able to play, but the entire journey was incredible.” He commented on his absence while the Oklahoma City Thunder made their championship run.

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

“I accomplished a lot,” Topic recalled as he described his challenging path to recovery over the offseason. “Being able to return to the game I love felt fantastic. At first, it felt strange. I was like, ‘What do I do now? Should I sleep? Eat? When is the right time for certain activities? Should I take a nap?’ But eventually, it all fell into place, and I’m confident it will continue to improve.”

The next milestone on his journey toward officially debuting with the reigning NBA champions is the training camp.

“It feels incredible just to have the opportunity to play alongside these talented individuals and be part of the team now,” he noted at the preseason media day on Monday.

Superstars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have played a significant role in guiding him early in his career.

“Everyone has insights and advice to offer,” Topic acknowledged his teammates, “I’m eager to build relationships with them, contribute to their improvement, and help our team secure as many victories as possible.”