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Nikola Topić
Nikola Topić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Топић, born 10 August 2005) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the point guard position. Early careerTopić grew up playing basketball for KK Defense from his native Novi Sad from which he joined the Crvena zvezda youth system in June 2020.[1][2] Professional careerCrvena zvezda (2022–2024)On 28 March 2022, Topić made his professional debut for Crvena zvezda in an ABA League match against Slovenian side Krka at the age of 16. He scored 4 points and had 5 assists over 16 minutes of playing time. At 16 years, seven months and eighteen days of age, he became the youngest player in club's history to score points for Crvena zvezda in the ABA League.[3][4][5] On 1 April 2022, Topić made his EuroLeague debut in a 82–57 loss to Bayern Munich,[6] becoming one of youngest players to ever play in the EuroLeague at 16 years and 253 days of age. 2022–23 seasonAt the start of the 2022–23 season, Topić was loaned to the Serbian team Slodes in September 2022.[7] He returned to Crvena zvezda shortly after, and played with the team from October until December of the same year, during which in limited role he averaged 3.4 points over seven ABA League games. On 9 January 2023, the ABA League declined and cancelled Topić's transfer to FMP Meridian.[8][9] Eventually, he was loaned to OKK Beograd for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[10] With OKK Beograd, he appeared in 19 games of the Serbian League, averaging 17.8 points on 55.2% shooting from the field, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. 2023–24 seasonOn 17 July 2023, Topić signed his first professional contract with Crvena zvezda.[11] At the start of the 2023–24 season, Topić was loaned to the Serbian team Mega. He averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds over 13 games, before being loaned back to Crvena zvezda in December 2023.[12] On 4 January 2024, he suffered a knee injury in a game against Partizan Belgrade.[13] On 10 April 2024, he won the ABA League Top Prospect award after securing more than half of the votes. He averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds when he won the award.[14] On 27 May 2024, Topić suffered a partially torn ACL in a game against Partizan Belgrade.[15][16] Oklahoma City Thunder (2024–present)On 26 June 2024, Topić was selected with the twelfth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024 NBA draft.[17] On 6 July, he signed with the Thunder.[18] It was later announced that Topić was expected to miss the entirety of the 2024–25 season due to surgery on his torn ACL.[19] National team careerIn August 2021, Topić was a member of the Serbian under-16 national team that participated at the FIBA U16 European Challengers in Novi Sad, Serbia. He played only one game, recording 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 83–52 win over the Czech Republic. He represented the Serbian national team in his debut on 16 August 2023 where Serbia played a friendly match against Puerto Rico.[20][21] Career statistics
EuroLeague
Domestic leagues
Personal lifeNikola is a son of Milenko Topić, a Serbian basketball coach and former player.[22] A power forward, Milenko spent most of his career in the YUBA League playing for Profikolor, BFC Beočin, Crvena zvezda as well, Budućnost and Hemofarm. In later career, Milenko played in Italy and Greece. Nikola's father also represented the Yugoslavian national team internationally (representing FR Yugoslavia), with whom he won gold medals at the EuroBasket 1997 and the 1998 FIBA World Championship, a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and a bronze at the EuroBasket 1999.[23] See also
References
External links
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