Oklahoma City Thunder Select Serbian Guard Nikola Topic with 12th Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected 18-year-old Serbian guard Nikola Topic with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Topic is regarded as an elite ballhandler and passer but has weaknesses in shooting and defense. He recently suffered a partially torn ACL and is expected to spend the 2024-25 season rehabbing. Despite the injury, Topic is viewed as a promising developmental player with significant upside, drawing comparisons to recently traded Josh Giddey. The Thunder, who did not have urgent roster needs, opted to invest in Topic's future potential rather than immediate impact. Critics and analysts have mixed opinions on Topic due to his limited game sample and injury concerns, though his performance in international competitions and for Mega suggests high potential.