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Four games into his OKC Blue stint, Nikola Topic has shown he's probably a level ahead of the rest of the G League competition. The 20-year-old has played like a recent NBA lottery pick in an environment populated by guys below his talent.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has liked what he's seen from Topic. He's finally had the chance to make his NBA debut. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL that dropped him to the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He also missed the first four months of this season with testicular cancer.
After a few rounds of chemotherapy, Topic had one of the best comeback stories as he finally suited up for the Thunder. That in itself is a massive accomplishment. Now that he's crossed that off his bucket list, he can fully focus on his basketball career.
Since then, Topic has spent time with the G League's Blue. He's averaged 19 points on 54.2% shooting, seven assists and 2.5 rebounds in four games. He's shot 50% from 3 on 4.5 attempts. Small sample size, of course, but you gotta be impressed with that type of dominance.
"He played great again today. I didn't see the game, but obviously great numbers. Just played really well. His stretches have increased. His time with us kinda lined up with he was playing shorter spurts with the Blue, anyways," Daigneault said. "We had all those guys out, so it was kinda a good opportunity to check both boxes, but he needs the increase in volume right now from a conditioning standpoint, if nothing else."
A lot is still unknown about Topic. And that's exciting. If he reaches his ceiling as a high-end playmaker, he could be another young piece the Thunder could use to extend their championship window. Being gifted a lottery pick is the type of thing that helps OKC keep its rich depth through various roster cycles.
"We are late in the season, but he's very early in his career. He's played really well in the games, obviously," Daigneault said. "So trying to thread the needle. It’s good to have him there and maximize the Blue games that are left in the season.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault reviews Nikola Topic's G League stint
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