Why Topic Might Be The STEAL Of 2024 NBA Draft

Nikola Topic is the biggest high-risk, high-reward pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Just one year ago, he was projected to go only in the 2nd round. Then, he played fantastic basketball for 6 months straight and got into the Top 3. However, now, two knee injuries have made his stock plummet. In this video, BasketNews' Augustas Suliauskas takes a look at the mysterious case of the Serbian point guard & why he could become the biggest steal of this year's draft if he falls outside of the Top 10.
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This video is sponsored by Hostinger. Use our code BNEWS10 & get an additional -10% discount for all hosting plans: www.hostg.xyz/SHEdJ. Free domain as well as free AI Website Builder is included. Start building your dream business now! How do you see Nikola Topic's future? Will he be a steal or a bust? 👀 Let us know in the comments below 👇 If you enjoyed the video, help us grow by hitting the like button & subscribing to our channel! Lastly, follow us on social media for more content: Twitter: twitter.com/basketnews_com/ Instagram: instagram.com/basketnews/ Inquiries for partnership: [e-mail]

[@Vdst5244]

For me, Nikola Đurišić ( Nikola Djurisic) is better than Nikola Topić. Đurišić played with Topić in Mega... p.s. 🇷🇸

[@TheGod2go]

Any other okc fans looking to see what we got

[@yunglamar321]

I’m here I hope he is a good fit now we need to get a big man in free agency

[@wiezewee]

Absolutely

[@J_Koola]

Wanted Edey but I’ll take this fs

[@justanotherwatchman9532]

Yep

[@y3ager656]

@@J_Kooladidn’t want Topic but i didn’t like Edey either. We can’t rely on rookies to solve our rebounding problems, there is the free agency for that. We could’ve drafted someone like Carrington though.

[@neilxdavis5359]

Welcome to OKC

[@Rypzy]

if this dude sells im raging

[@thomashigdon5015]

He has a high ceiling and could be a steal. Unfortunately, we won’t know for another year. Typical Presti pick.

[@kingmoreorless2810]

​@@thomashigdon5015LOL he will be a steal

[@gabepizza]

Traded one Serbian pg and now drafted another

[@artistapp6797]

Thunder fan here, checking the guy we just picked.

[@Mortay2k]

Bro can learn to JDub and SGA. He's driving into the basket without hesitation but, with that athleticism, he can be for sure an injury prone player (he's relying too much on his speed). Playing and watching how SGA and JDub attack the basket can help him improve more and lessen his injury. Hoping this boy can help OKC in the future⚡⚡

[@DabPanda710]

Came here after OKC drafted him @ 12 Thunder Uppp Chet v2 another year of waiting 😭

[@DabPanda710]

Chipp will Fix that Flatt shottt 🏀

[@boza5684]

I think it would be great for him and for San Antonio if they chose him. The Spurs have an excellent medical staff, Greg likes European players, he just "grows" together with Wemby...

[@klauserikk]

As a spurs fan I couldn’t agree more

[@Shlongclock]

I have a very strong feeling he is going to san antonio, the only guess i dare to take this draft

[@1TJustN1kky]

Number 8 Pick for the spurs

[@ilcapitano010]

Spurs or Jazz would be great for him. Sitting out his first year wouldn’t be a problem cause he’s one of the youngest players in this draft.

[@David-wo9lu]

@@ilcapitano010 please just not the useless jazz

[@paulapana6241]

It's raining Nikolas in Serbian basketball. Jokic, Jovic, Topic, Milutinov...

[@NikolaIvanovic-pu7hg]

Kalinic, Djurisic...

[@francischung7574]

They might have to rename the NBA to Nikola's Basketball Association at this rate

[@srbaleks-3371]

Serbian power 🇷🇸♥️

[@hategonji]

Like this comment if you’re an OKC fan watching after the draft

[@AlexCruz-zf1qn]

OKC -Sam presti does it again. We got our future PG and SGA at the shooting guard.

[@dynctive]

Would love him to fall to my Raptors at 19. Unlikely it happens but I would love to see him in Coach Darko's system

[@AugustasSuliauskas]

Another player to probably miss the entire rookie year and debut in his 2nd season. OKC have been consistent with their draft choices lately. And Sam Presti mentioned today that they were looking for someone who can pass, reads the game well, and can blend in with a variety of skills.

[@Moximoximoxi]

Next luka doncic 😍

[@oosinsei]

it is nice to be optimistic, but Doncic is over 2 meters and very strong. This guy is more like 190 cm and very fast. So different play styles first of all, and the injury is not good.

[@daklestvarno]

@@oosinsei he is actually 1.98 m, 3 cm shorter then Luka

[@slender289]

They needed another primary playmaker since both SGA & JDub are great passers too but in honesty they're just secondary while adding in some pieces in iHart then Caruso who can playmake add a bit more as connectors who are their tertiary passers. Their betting to have either one of Topic or Wallace to fill the void that Giddey left since Presti is not just focusing in the present but also planning for the long term future, that's the main reason they took Nikola especially in the Playoffs OKC's passing have dipped severely like the ball stopped moving or got stagnant. The Thunder are banking/investing high to develop a pure playmaker for them going down the road as the contend for a Championships in this up coming years also Nikola Topic wouldn't fall to them if he hadn't got injured before the draft so getting to pick the best talent plus potential available was a good move with how they're familiar handling redshirt rookies with Chet or having Serbians drafted back then in Poku and Micic.

[@horkoki]

officially a thunder 🙏

[@KOAP33]

I like Topic 'tho he is a bit prone injury risk for me personally Nikola Djurisic is going to be this year draft steal......

[@dejanbogdanovic509]

think same

[@Rzaiii]

Tough decision by Sam to draft this kid but I see why he have higher potential celling than the rest of the players in this Mid draft class the big man issue gonna take place at free agent need to trust Sam in this one

[@Moximoximoxi]

He is cooking

[@MrZdanTomas]

nice breakdown as always. damn, such a high level decision making at his age is crazy

[@redstone1145]

Utah better draft him if he falls to us

[@adrianrussey]

And now he's on my thunder😊

[@UrosMijailovic5704]

Djurisic is a steal too

[@MrDuncanquasar]

Great summary Augustus. I think he could be the best player in this draft IF he can stay healthy. And that's a big if. He also needs to get drafted into the right situation.

[@megarock327]

Welcome to loud city kid!

[@XYRYX1]

Excellent video! Thanks for giving insight into the way his journey was. ThunderUp⚡️

[@BrianLawrence-vk3pu]

Shades of Luka with his ability to use his body to manipulate defenders. He doesn't have blow-by speed but great instincts and size. Shooting is his biggest weakness but he has solid form. May very well end up being the steal of this draft.

[@kt_85]

A really great talent but not nba ready yet for sure . People think he’s gonna be like Luka but at the moment not even close . I was one of the few before Lukas draft that was saying he has to go number 1 and I got roasted here by a lot of Americans that didn’t know Luka at that time but I knew because Im from Greece and watch euroleague and knew his talent since he was 17! Topic has plenty of talent but for sure not a top 5 Pick . Still , he will be a great player in the near future . Anywhere from 8th-13th pick will be absolutely normal for this kid if a team is willing to invest in him . I would like to see the bulls pick him

[@marjongonato105]

Im here after the draft

[@michaelsmith-wc7zm]

Who's here from OKC?

[@harderway8568]

Well one thing's for sure, if your name's Nikola (Jokić, Jović, Vučević, Peković, Mirotić...) you already have all it takes to play in the NBA.

[@JamesSmith-mp6by]

OKC fun. Thanks for the video. First time I see the kid.

[@charlescohen6140]

One negative is he isn’t 6’6” as when he is standing next to JDub he might be 1-2” shorter. But on the positive, if he shoots 85% fts and has Chip helping him it’s logical his three% will go up.

[@JayTyrus]

I am reading player comparisons to Goran Dragic....high risk(injury prone)/ high reward (potential)

[@meanon4408]

I'm annoyed OKC took him. How's supposed to develop behind SGA? My ideal Scenario was Spurs but they decided on Castle who isn't the playmaker Topic is and I don't see how Castle is a better fit with Wemby than Topic is

[@leosalles5338]

i´m curious about juan nunez. I might be wrong, but i think he has nothing to do with nba

[@basketballuniverse2244]

Really good video

[@jomoeller8965]

okc legend

[@ElyTeo]

Micic didnt play a lot for OKC , they have a different philosophy surrounding SGA , Topic needs the ball in his hands. I dont think how he can fit.I really hope he goes well though

[@Stink...]

I'd hope he can facilitate off the bench

[@jacktheteo]

is his game comparable to micic?

[@edvinelo]

kinda yes

[@ryanamburgy2791]

10 years younger

[@Laijusjs]

If no acl injury probably top 5

[@nikdozzer9066]

This doesnt sound good now when we know he is picked from OKC... I cant see how will he get any bigger role or chance to develop in OKC roster.

[@doctorclaude]

I hoped a pick at 8 for Spurs. What a pity...

[@-zbrdazdola-]

Future captain of our national team.

[@itai4242]

Right now he isn't a steal. I have seen better players with less questions marks (although in this draft most players have a lot of questions marks), but i'll never bet against Presti.

[@GarretEvans]

Poku or Topic, who do you pick? Obviously, for me, Poku has the better fanny packs, so it’s an easy call.

[@ahnguyen1]

OKC got a steal. I am sure with 1 year rest he will recover from the injury

[@matejadanilovic1011]

putting tarrence clark there is crazy brev

[@pandagold4722]

Risky pick. Skipped too many leg days. If your knee is giving out without contact, your muscles around your knee are weak. He needs to do everything he can to strengthen his quadriceps, popliteus, hamstrings. because his ligaments are not going to handle his style of play.

[@TheDeven1000]

#ThunderUp

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

I don't understand what the hell GM for OKC Sam Presti is doing. He got rid of Lively after drafting him and he went to Dallas and was a HUGE part of why they beat the Thunder and is exactly what they need right now. Then he trades their 4th best player Giddey who was an integral part of why they were the #1 seed in the draft and brings in a lower tier wing who doesn't even average 7 pts. Now he brings in yet another wing player? They've got tons of them already and don't need him. They need a big man. Absolutely terrible pick.

[@Nexus7even]

Giddey couldn't stay on the floor in the playoffs, Caruso is a huge upgrade, great defender who is good from 3. This guy was mocked higher than he went so was a good value pick. Lively was a mistake but decisions are easy in hindsight. Presti is not a guy who makes no mistakes as some think. This pick was ok tho. I woulda went for the guy the Lakers drafted but not a bad pick.

[@ryanamburgy2791]

I mean we did get rid of lively but we got Cason who’s still very good and probably better for okc

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@ryanamburgy2791 If OKC would have had Lively in that Dallas series we clearly would have beat them. He made a big difference. Cason Wallace is a decent player but they don't need him. They have enough wing players.

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@Nexus7even Clearly you didn't watch the series against New Orleans was great and replacing Giddey in the starting lineup against Dallas with Isaiah Joe was a huge disaster. He was TERRIBLE. You don't change the starting lineup in the playoffs. That was a truly stupid move that did nothing and actually made things worse.

[@vladixxx93]

Djurisic is steal

[@LaniJeb96960]

Knees over toes Nikola knees over toes!

[@AK-cp6br]

Don't like that he was drafted by OKC, he won't have a lot of playing time near Shai.

[@basketballuniverse2244]

We want to win a Chip, if he can be good , we can go really far, like with Harden

[@LesterAngeles-o8d]

knees made of fucking glass

[@da3282]

..... But injury ruins everything

[@hoesnyhamid7356]

juan nunez taken @36th might be as good as topic and he is not injured.

[@letsgoheat24]

miami pls

[@MikeJones-lu7fk]

He plays with Westbrook's Energy!

[@Inniyasha]

LOUD CITY

[@lesterjohntalde296]

FIlipowski best player on this draft

[@davem4038]

Taigi jis raiscius nusitrauke

[@karthikwhy]

yo at this rate the nba boutta be dominated by a bunch of serbian nikolas in a few years 🤣

[@corri_9118]

man topic gonna finish like micic he better get out of okc and go to other teams like spurs,charlotte or somewhere else

[@Bababoy6969]

Wtf u taljing bout steal bruh he's not gonna last 3 seasons In the nba

[@tysonkelley2631]

We traded giddy then got another giddy 😂

[@markdaniel981]

Looks a lot craftier than Giddey tbh

[@sanddrifter-iv6pf]

Can't shoot, can't defend, injury prone, seems like a bust

[@rubeet]

Future Thunder starting PG

[@niek9671]

9 views in 1 minute??? Bro fell off

[@ŽaliaUgnis]

Bruh

[@tomojevdenic996]

Brother clicks coming in are delayed most of the Time

[@charliewallwork1861]

Welcome to OKC!!! Super excited to see what he can bring when he is healthy.

[@kingbrown8245]

Welcome to OKC

[@djsilverrush]

Check Nikola Djurisic. The boy is a hidden gem.

[@SugaShagg]

Welcome to okc!!

[@slender289]

A starting lineup of SGA Topic JDub iHart Chet Would be nasty in the future

[@jdam6017]

I want him to succeed, but oh man, those red flags are concerning. A ton of knee injuries for a player who relies on driving to the basket is not a great combo.,

[@70bugs]

Mostly what I'm worried about is that Giddey was a really good player, but since he never played on-ball, he was so useless for us. I'm just worried that if Topic isn't like a ROTY talent, he's just not gonna get the ball, and he's gonna be a waste of space.

[@yunglamar321]

Welcome to the City

[@jovanjovanovic2905]

One more Nikola in NBA One more MVP from Serbia!

[@To_Ni43]

Next year I wanna see No1. pick from Europe named Luka Jokić or Nikola Dončić! Someone can do that 😂

[@kinidiosodlosios6892]

Its a interesting Topic

[@terrancedavis4851]

I didnt like topic when i first looked into him as a possible raptor pick if we kept our lottery pick but on okc, damnn he is a damn good pick up. A good josh giddy replacement and playmaker. I like his game just isnt a shooter yet which is what my raptors needed. On okc he can develop as a back up to sga potential can be a future trade assets or sga insurance should he ever leave okc

[@vukmirkovic2567]

He is not new Luka Doncic, Luka is best talent we ever had from Europe. But Topic will be huge also, needs to improve shot.

[@RMCOVERS.]

Bro why does it sound like your saying 20 injuries talk slower brother

[@g.chaniotakis9656]

I wish he stays in Europe becoming a legend here.

[@leonardofabbri7930]

this guy is second coming of Sani Becirovic

[@TheDeven1000]

Okc can just give him a full season off to rehab and work on his shot

[@dstarsnz]

0:15 ... Bronny James projected at 10 .... yikes

[@RMCOVERS.]

Love me some top

[@holguin4sho]

Man wtf

[@joshhope8661]

I’m here after seeing my OKC Thunder drafted him at 12!!!

[@AizenSosuke539]

He'd be perfect for the San Antonio Spurs

[@nkululekogoodhope7044]

Plus this man looks like an assassin

[@unskeptable]

Bro is wearing t-shirt 3 sizes bigger than his normal size

[@javierchavez4749]

Thunder up super excited

[@bealu9459]

how did bro already made a video

[@chess_on_toilet]

As a spurs fan this is scary….big respect to okc

[@MOCTAP82]

We will see him go TOP 10

[@CdeMaDaejsAripi]

OKC eating good!

[@RoycoCru]

poor man's deni avdija

[@tombrokow8181]

Zivela Srbija.

[@yannisandrei3603]

As a chicago fan I’d love him here, he’d be a good lonzo replacement

[@DabPanda710]

You got Diddyy

[@rodpec9097]

If I were OKC, I would slowly start looking into trading SGA while he is still in the top 5 conversations. Topic is basically SGA, just with Serbian steel balls instead of them Canadian raisins

[@HeHe-zx2ei]

That is by far the worst take I’ve seen in 2024 congrats you won🎉🎉🎉

[@berryesseen]

Nikola Jokic wannabe? People should stop changing their names to look like famous NBA players...