Thunder draft Nikola Topic

Oklahoma City selected Nikola Topic with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Topic had been mocked as a top-5 talent before suffering a partially torn ACL this month, and will spend the 2024-25 season rehabbing for the Thunder.

Called "the best pure point guard prospect in this draft class" by No Ceilings, the 6'7 Serbian is yet another big ball-handler drafted by Sam Presti. While Presti may have pressed the gas in last week's Josh Giddey trade, he opted to nab an 18-year-old project in Topic rather than targeting a hopeful contributor from what is widely viewed as a weak lottery class. Topic profiles somewhat similarly to Giddey as an athletically limited guard who can't shoot and needs the ball in his hands to be effective, but–if his recent injuries don't say otherwise–he has more upside as a driver and finisher.

Nikola Topic on what OKC can expect:

"They're getting a good teammate and a leader on the court and off the court. And I'll try to do my best."
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 27, 2024

OKC went into the draft armed with only this pick, so barring any other deal-making through the second round tomorrow, this will be the only rookie addition to the roster ahead of an important free agency period. Stay tuned.