By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
It was an exceptional night at the 2024 NBA Draft for European players. The French trio composed of Zaccharie Risacher, Alexander Sarr, and Tidjane Salaun were chosen with the 1st, 2nd, and 6th picks by Atlanta, Washington, and Charlotte, while Nikola Topic was selected by Oklahoma City as 12th.
After selecting the promising Serbian rookie, Sam Presti commented on the choice. “It was a unique situation to be able to get a player of that caliber where we did. We’re really excited about bringing him into the organization and bringing him into the program”, Thunder‘s GM said.
Oklahoma City’s executive vice president also said he has been talking with a former team player about the 2005-born coming from Crvena zvezda. “I think everyone knows what we think of [Vasilije] Micic. He has a great basketball mind”, he commented about discussing with him regarding Nikola Topic.
The 18-year-old promising Serbian talent won’t play in this year’s Olympic Games, coming off his first season in the EuroLeague with the red-and-white powerhouse. According to Meridian Sport, the Serbian club is set to receive a two-million dollar compensation from OKC.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, his agent Misko Raznatovic revealed that Nikola Topic currently has a partially torn ACL. He underwent several medical examinations both in Italy and in the US.
According to what was reported by Brandon Rahbar, the franchise’s beat writer for Daily Thunder, Sam Presti doesn’t expect him to play with the team next season. “We’re well versed on all that. We’ve seen the imaging”, he finally said, being comfortable with the player’s medicals.
With the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selects Nikola Topić ⚡ pic.twitter.com/8UdKRMkKBT
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 27, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: ABA League