Tag: Nikola Topic

2024 NBA draft: How to watch, broadcast info for second round

2024 NBA draft: How to watch, broadcast info for second round.

The 2024 NBA draft has arrived and if you’re wondering how you can watch the event live, you’ve come to the right place.

The first round is in the books, which means the second round will play out on Thursday to finish the inaugural two-day draft. The second round will consist of selections 31-58.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the draft:

  • Date: Thursday, June 27
  • Time: 3 p.m. CT
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: Fubo (watch for free)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have already drafted a pair of rookies in the first round. They added Nikola Topic with the No. 12 selection and traded back into the first round to add Dillon Jones with the No. 26 selection.

The Thunder enter the second round without a single draft pick, but that can obviously change with trades.

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2024 NBA draft: OKC Thunder selects Nikola Topic with No. 12 selection

2024 NBA draft: OKC Thunder selects Nikola Topic with No. 12 selection.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have selected Serbia’s Nikola Topic with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft.

Topic started last season with the ABA’s Mega MIS. He quickly established himself as one of the best international prospects. The 18-year-old put up monster numbers as a primary ball-handler.

He averaged 18.4 points on 52.3% shooting, 7.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds. He shot 25.9% from 3 on 4.5 attempts. He shot 85.5% from the free-throw line.

At 6-foot-6, 201 pounds, Topic has elite size for a guard but will need to add muscle to his wiry frame. Considering his youth, that shouldn’t be an issue as he matures.

He suffered a knee injury in January that cost him four months. His return in April was shortlived as he suffered a partially torn ACL on the same knee

With the Thunder, he will likely undergo a redshirt year next season as he rehabs his injury. Once he returns, he’s seen as a long-term project who could be a high-end backcourt starter if he reaches his ceiling.

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Explaining why top international prospect Nikola Topic may fall in the 2024 NBA Draft

What is going on with Nikola Topic right now?

Every year, there are players expected to hear his name called early in the draft but who fall lower than initially anticipated. One of the players in the 2024 NBA Draft who could deal with such a slide is Nikola Topic.

While he was projected the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft here on For The Win’s first consensus mock draft as recently as last month, quite a lot has changed since then. Now, the projections are far lower.

Topic, a guard measured at nearly 6-foot-6 in socks at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine in Italy, won FIBA U18 European Championship MVP in 2023. He was also awarded ABA League Top Prospect in 2024 and named All-ABA League Team.

He averaged 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game while playing for KK Mega Bemax. Topic was later loaned to KK Crvena zvezda in Serbia but suffered a knee injury in January. After returning to the court, he eventually suffered a partially torn ACL.

Is that why many feel that his draft stock is sliding, or is there more? Here are some of the latest reports.

Redshirt season

Jonathan Givony (via ESPN): “A team picking him will likely need to be comfortable with the idea of a redshirt season next year with long-term thinking in mind, similar to how Chet Holmgren, Joel Embiid, Michael Porter Jr. and Blake Griffin started their NBA careers.”

Knee injury and shooting

Western Conference Executive, via David Aldridge (via The Athletic): “If he starts dropping, it’s not because of his size, his age, and his skill; it’s going to be because of something else, and that’s going to be the knee. But it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a wildfire, where this is legitimately a concern. Right now, when we break him down, how can we add a non-shooter to what we have? You put so much pressure on your player development area — guys, we have to make him to be a respectable shooter. And what that means is, 38 percent, 39 percent from 3. And he’s never done that in his career. But, you guys have to make him that. You can love his size and you love his passing ability and you can love his basketball IQ, but at the end of the day, in the league, you have to be able to make a shot.”

Small sample size

Sam Vecenie (via The Athletic): “Topic has a lot of upside, especially if you really believe in the work he did on the ball in his 13 games to start the year for Mega. But using a top-five pick on a 13-game sample, especially when his games with Red Star were much more pedestrian, is a huge bet for any lead decision-maker in a front office. That person would need to trust that what they saw was reality and not the construct of a Mega offense that also allowed Nikola Djurišić to get loose as a scorer following Topić’s transfer back to Red Star. If his ability to separate against NBA-level athletes doesn’t come through and his jumper off the catch doesn’t get there, what is he then? Is he even a starter? As an enormous ballhandler with serious touch and incredible vision as a passer, Topić is clearly an NBA player, even if it doesn’t all translate. But his floor is lower than all the other top guys in this class because his sample of strong play is so small — even if that resume includes him winning MVP of the Under18 European championships last summer.”

With great size at his position and as one of the better floor generals in the class, there is still plenty of value for Topic no matter where he is selected. At BetMGM, the over/under on Topic’s draft position was set at 11.5 and he was +200 to go in the top ten.


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Rob Dillingham is among the second group of players invited to the draft green room

Dillingham conducted his required combine testing on Friday, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the draft.

Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham reportedly conducted his required combine testing, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the 2024 NBA draft.

Dillingham wasn’t able to participate in on-court testing last month at the combine because of an ankle injury. He was cleared this week from the injury and completed the requirements in front of teams on Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers‘ practice facility.

The 19-year-old was among the second group of prospects who received invitations from the NBA to attend the draft in the green room on June 26-27 at the Barlcays Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Teams with first-round picks each year vote on the players they believe will be drafted early, typically the top 20-25 prospects. Last year, 25 prospects were invited to the green room and only one wasn’t selected in the first round (Rayan Rupert, 43rd overall pick).

Included in the second batch of invitations were Serbian guard Nikola Topić, Duke players Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski, Miami forward Kyshawn George, USC guard Isaiah Collier, Baylor center Yves Missi and Kansas forward Johnny Furphy.

The first group of players invited to the green room included French players Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaün; UConn players Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle; G League Ignite players Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland; and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.

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Rumor: Thunder could add Nikola Topic if he falls to No. 12 spot of 2024 NBA draft

Rumor: Thunder could add Nikola Topic if he falls to No. 12 spot of 2024 NBA draft.

A shockwave was sent throughout the 2024 NBA draft process when it was reported that projected lottery pick Nikola Topic suffered a partially torn ACL.

The extent of the injury is unknown, but it’s the latest example of a concerning trend. He suffered a knee injury in January that cost him four months. His return in April was shortlived as he suffered an ACL tear on the same knee just three games later.

The 18-year-old could go down the road of redshirting his first year recovering from the knee injury. If that’s the case, it will seriously hurt his draft stock.

In ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony’s prospect rankings, he noted the Oklahoma City Thunder as a possible destination if he falls to the No. 12 spot.

“San Antonio (No. 8), Utah (No. 10), Oklahoma City (No. 12) and Portland (No. 14) are viewed by teams as potential landing spots depending on team doctors’ full assessments of his medicals, which have yet to be distributed. Only teams picking in the top 15 will have access to those, per new CBA rules.”

The strategy behind the risky selection is to trust Topic’s recovery process and take a top-five talent with the 12th pick. The Thunder can afford the luxury of not needing him ready for his rookie year. They can slowplay his rehab in the background of another contending season.

Topic is viewed as a project with a real chance to be a high-end playmaker. The jumper needs to improve but the 6-foot-7 guard has the potential to be a great traditional point guard.

In 12 games last season with the ABA’s Mega MIS, he averaged 18.4 points on 52.3% shooting, 7.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds. He shot 25.9% from 3 on 4.5 attempts. He shot 85.5% from the free-throw line.

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What does Nikola Topic’s ACL tear mean to the San Antonio Spurs’ draft plans?

Will Topic be on the board at No. 8?

The San Antonio Spurs might get multiple cracks at drafting coveted Serbian point guard Nikola Topic with picks at Nos. 4 and 8 in the 2024 NBA draft. But the reason why that may be the case could also be a good reason to pass, pending how the Spurs’ front office sees his medicals after news broke that Topic has a partially torn ACL.

Evidently the same knee that had Topic sitting out for four months while he was playing overseas, the news will likely make the projected top-five draft pick slip in his 2024 cohort. Would it be enough to slip to No. 8 and let San Antonio use their No. 4 pick on a player like UConn’s Donovan Clingan?

Of course, this depends on how that knee looks, but this is an intriguing development should the best outcome of this being a minor injury as far as ACL tears can be, and the folks behind the “SSPN: A San Antonio Spurs Podcast” YouTube channel took some time to talk it over on a recent episode.

Check it out above!

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Report: Projected lottery pick Nikola Topić diagnosed with partially torn ACL

The setback is reportedly expected to have a minimal impact on his draft stock this month.

Projected lottery pick Nikola Topić has been reportedly diagnosed with a partially torn ACL sustained while playing with Crvena zvezda, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Topić suffered the non-contact injury on May 13 against Partizan in Game 1 of the ABA League Finals and had to be helped off the court by teammates. He missed the remainder of the series and was diagnosed with a left knee sprain by team doctors.

The severity of the injury was revealed this week at a predraft camp for international prospects in Treviso, Italy. He is expected to travel to the United States soon to meet with doctors to determine the next step in his rehabilitation.

Topić missed four months after suffering a ligament injury to the same knee earlier this season in January. He returned on April 22 and made four appearances before his latest setback, averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

The 6-foot-6 guard was named the ABA League Top Prospect after averaging 15 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds on 49.8% shooting from the field in 22 games this season. He joined Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as previous players to win the award.

Topić is projected to be a high pick after dazzling this season in a limited sample size. He brings great size to the next level and is likely more advanced than other prospects, given his professional experience in Serbia, which started when he was 16.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Projected lottery pick Nikola Topić provides injury update ahead of NBA draft

Nikola Topić said Tuesday at a predraft event that he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained on May 13.

Projected lottery pick Nikola Topić said Tuesday that he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained on May 13 while playing with Crvena zvezda, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Topić suffered the non-contact injury against Partizan in Game 1 of the ABA League Finals and had to be helped off the court by teammates. He missed the remainder of the series and was diagnosed with a left knee sprain by team doctors.

The 18-year-old provided the update at a predraft event for international prospects in Treviso, Italy. He will not be participating in on-court scrimmages but is expected to meet with teams and conduct medical testing in the event.

Topić missed four months after suffering a ligament injury to the same knee earlier this season in January. He returned on April 22 and made four appearances before his latest setback, averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

The 6-foot-6 guard was named the ABA League Top Prospect after averaging 15 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds on 49.8% shooting from the field in 22 games this season. He joined Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as previous players to win the award.

Topić is projected to be a high pick after dazzling this season in a limited sample size. He brings great size to the next level and is likely more advanced than other prospects, given his professional experience in Serbia, which started when he was 16.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Recent NBA mock draft sees Spurs take Nikola Topic at pick No. 4

Another NBA mock draft has the San Antonio Spurs picking Nikola Topic at four,

The San Antonio Spurs have a huge opportunity to improve their team in the 2024 NBA Draft, as they have two top-10 selections. Though this year’s draft is supposedly weak, they can still snag some very talented prospects. In a recent NBA mock draft from Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Spurs picked up Nikola Topic.

“Should Risacher fall to them, adding Wembanyama’s countryman could be intriguing. But the wing far more likely to be there is the 18-year-old Topic, a tall guard who has impressive passing ability and shot creation,” Lewis wrote. “His knee needs a clean bill of health and he must hone his jumper — hitting just 30 percent from 3-point range.

“But he’s a young upside pick for a young upside team. San Antonio desperately needs playmakers and could use shooting around Wembanyama. Topic could provide both … someday down the line.”

The Spurs need to add playmaking this summer, and Topic could be the perfect guy for them to target.

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Mock draft sees Spurs take Nikola Topic again at pick four

Should the San Antonio Spurs target Nikola Topic in the 2024 NBA Draft?

As the San Antonio Spurs prepare for the 2024 NBA Draft, a bunch of mock drafts have seen them select the same player: Nikola Topic. The six-foot-six Serbian guard is a consensus top-10 pick. And Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report’s latest mock has the same prediction: San Antonio selecting Topic with the fourth pick in the draft.

“Another knee injury could complicate evaluations and decisions on Nikola Topić, who’s going to miss the rest of the Adriatic League playoffs,” Wasserman wrote. “However, there has been no indication of any serious damage, and the San Antonio Spurs have presumably seen enough to have confidence in Topić’s playmaking and rim pressure.

“He should be in the best-player-available conversation around No. 4, while his ball-screen play and passing could give him an extra edge for a team that needs more creation and a guard to make the game easier for Victor Wembanyama.”

The Spurs are going to be looking for playmaking help this summer, and Topic would definitely fit the bill.

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