Nikola Topić

Topić grew up playing basketball for KK Defense from his native Novi Sad from which he joined the Crvena zvezda youth system in June 2020.{{cite web |title=Nikola Topić profile |url=https://kkcrvenazvezda.rs/player/nikola-topic/ |website=kkcrvenazvezda.rs |access-date=29 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=Novi potpis u Zvezdi – ugovor za sina legende kluba |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2020&mm=06&dd=08&nav_id=1692758 |website=b92.net |access-date=29 March 2022}}

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.{{cite web |title= Crvena zvezda mts youngster Nikola Topić sets new club record as the reigning champions beat Krka |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/46741/crvena-zvezda-mts-youngster-nikola-topic-sets-new-club-record-as-the-reigning-champions-beat-krka/ |website=aba-liga.com |access-date=29 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=Mladići borovi: Mali Top zakoračio na crveno-beli put Slavnića, Stojakovića, Radmanovića, Kapičića... |url=https://mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/mladici-borovi-mali-top-zakoracio-na-crveno-beli-put-slavnica-stojakovica-radmanovica-kapicica/416088 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=29 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=Youngster Nikola Topic enters Zvezda's history books in win over Krka |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/aba/1325900/youngster-nikola-topic-enters-zvezdas-history-books-in-win-over-krka/ |website=eurohoops.net |date=28 March 2022 |access-date=2 April 2022}} On 1 April 2022, Topić made his EuroLeague debut in an 82–57 loss to Bayern Munich,{{cite web |date=2 April 2022 |title=FC Bayern Munich 82 57 FINAL Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade logo Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2021-22/fc-bayern-munich-crvena-zvezda-mts-belgrade/E2021/293/#boxscore |access-date=2 April 2022 |website=euroleaguebasketball.net}} becoming one of youngest players to ever play in the EuroLeague at 16 years and 253 days of age.

At the start of the 2022–23 season, Topić was loaned to the Serbian team Slodes in September 2022.{{cite news |title=Nikola Topić i Lazar Trifković na pozajmici u Slodesu |url=https://sportal.blic.rs/kosarka/domaca-kosarka-i-aba/nikola-topic-i-lazar-trifkovic-na-pozajmici-u-slodesu/2022090313162267880 |access-date=3 January 2024 |work=blic.rs |date=3 September 2022 |language=sr}} 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.{{cite web |title=Veliki problemi za Zvezdinog pleja: Nikola Topić ne može da igra za FMP |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/veliki-problemi-za-zvezdinog-pleja-nikola-topic-ne-moze-da-igra-za-fmp/440325 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=10 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Ništa od transfera, ABA zabranila registraciju Nikole Topića za FMP |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2023&mm=01&dd=09&nav_id=2271039 |website=b92.net |access-date=10 January 2023}} Eventually, he was loaned to OKK Beograd for the rest of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |title=Nikola Topić u OKK Beogradu |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/nikola-topic-u-okk-beogradu/440362 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=10 January 2023}} 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.

On 17 July 2023, Topić signed his first professional contract with Crvena zvezda.{{cite news |title=NIKOLA TOPIĆ POTPISAO PRVI UGOVOR I POSTAO PRVOTIMAC CRVENE ZVEZDE! |url=https://kkcrvenazvezda.rs/2023/07/17/nikola-topic-potpisao-prvi-ugovor-i-postao-prvotimac-crvene-zvezde/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=kkcrvenazvezda.rs |date=17 July 2023 |language=sr}} 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.{{cite news |title=NIKOLA TOPIĆ SE VRATIO SVOJOJ KUĆI U CRVENU ZVEZDU! |url=https://kkcrvenazvezda.rs/2023/12/26/nikola-topic-se-vratio-svojoj-kuci-u-crvenu-zvezdu/ |access-date=3 January 2024 |date=26 December 2023 |language=sr}} On 4 January 2024, he suffered a knee injury in a game against Partizan Belgrade.{{cite news |title=NIKOLA SE POVREDIO NA DERBIJU, MORAO U SVLAČIONICU! Ova fotografija će zabrinuti crveno-bele, BOLI GA! |url=https://mondo.rs/Sport/Kosarka/a1873107/Nikola-Topic-se-povredio-na-Zvezda-Partizan-u-Evroligi.html |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=mondo.rs |date=4 January 2024}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Nikola Topic named 2023-24 ABA League Top Prospect |url=https://basketnews.com/news-204472-nikola-topic-named-2023-24-aba-league-top-prospect.html |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=basketnews.com |language=en}}

On 27 May 2024, Topić suffered a partially torn ACL in a game against Partizan Belgrade.{{cite web |last1=Boone |first1=Kyle |last2=Finkelstein |first2=Adam |name-list-style=amp |date=5 June 2024 |title=Nikola Topić injury: Projected top-10 pick in 2024 NBA Draft could see stock fall after partially torn ACL |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nikola-topic-injury-projected-top-10-pick-in-2024-nba-draft-could-see-stock-fall-after-partially-torn-acl/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=CBS Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Givony |first=Johnathan |date=2024-06-05 |title=ACL tear for potential top-10 NBA draft pick Topic |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40284258 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

On 26 June 2024, Topić was selected with the twelfth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024 NBA draft.{{cite web|first=Joshua|last=Valdez|title=Thunder headline 2024 NBA Draft biggest 1st-round winners|url=https://clutchpoints.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-headline-2024-nba-draft-biggest-1st-round-winners|website=ClutchPoints.com|date=June 26, 2024|access-date=June 26, 2024}} On 6 July, he signed with the Thunder.{{cite web|title=Thunder Signs Nikola Topić and Dillon Jones|url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/topic-jones-mitchell-240706|website=NBA.com|date=6 July 2024|access-date=14 July 2024}} It was later announced that Topić was expected to miss the entirety of the 2024–25 season due to surgery on his torn ACL.{{Cite web |last=Almanza |first=Clemente |date=2024-07-24 |title=Thunder's Nikola Topic undergoes surgery for torn ACL |url=https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2024/07/24/thunders-nikola-topic-undergoes-surgery-for-torn-acl/74529366007/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=OKC Thunder Wire |language=en-US}}

In 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 an 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.{{cite web |title=2021 U16 Serbia #14 - Nikola TOPIĆ Point Guard |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/challengers/u16/2021/player/Nikola-Topi%C4%87 |website=fiba.basketball |access-date=29 March 2022}}{{cite web|title=Groups B & C - Group C - CZE SRB 52-83|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/challengers/u16/2021/game/1608/Czech-Republic-Serbia|website=FIBA.basketball|access-date=29 March 2022}}

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Crvena zvezda

| 1 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 0.0 || -1.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| 2 || 0 || 4.0 || .000 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.0 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 0.0 || 0.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| 2 || 2 || 15.0 || .375 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 3.5 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 3.5 || 4.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 5 || 2 || 8.2 || .273 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 1.6 || .2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.4 || 1.6

{{S-end}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 2 || 11.5 || .200 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 3.0 || 1.5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 7 || 8.0 || .625 || .250 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 3.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} OKK Beograd || style="text-align:center;"|KLS || 19 || 30.3 || .552 || .373 || .853 || 3.8 || 5.3 || 1.5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 17.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Mega || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 13 || 34.1 || .524 || .288 || .850 || 3.7 || 6.9 || .9 || .1 || 18.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Serbia|size=20px}} Crvena zvezda || style="text-align:center;"|ABA || 5 || 15.7 || .393 || .333 || 1.000 || 1.8 || 3.2 || .8 || .2 || 6.0

{{S-end}}

Nikola is a son of Milenko Topić, a Serbian basketball coach and former player.{{cite web |title=KAKAV OTAC – TAKAV SIN: Nikola Topić nastavlja stazama legende Zvezde! |url=https://meridianbetsport.rs/kosarka/nikola-topic-zvezda-milenko-topic/ |website=meridianbetsport.rs |date=28 March 2022 |access-date=30 March 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=NOVI ZVEZDIN TRENER Ko je Milenko Topić, miljenik navijača i čovek koji je pobedio Olimpijakos u Beogradu |url=https://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/domaca-kosarka-i-aba/novi-zvezdin-trener-ko-je-milenko-topic-miljenik-navijaca-i-covek-koji-je-pobedio/6hjm4zm |website=sport.blic.rs |access-date=30 March 2022}}

• List of father-and-son combinations who have played for Crvena zvezda
• List of Serbian NBA players
• List of youngest EuroLeague players

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.aba-liga.com/player/4120/21/1/nikola-topic/ Nikola Topić] at aba-liga.com
• [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-topic/records/010985/ Nikola Topić] at euroleague.net
• [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Nikola-Topic/Summary/179307 Nikola Topic] at realgm.com
• [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/237851/nikola-topic Nikola Topic] at proballers.com

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{{2024 NBA draft}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Topic, Nikola}}

Category:2005 births

Category:Living people

Category:ABA League players

Category:Basketball players from Novi Sad

Category:KK Crvena zvezda players

Category:KK Mega Basket players

Category:KK Slodes players

Category:OKK Beograd players

Category:Oklahoma City Thunder draft picks

Category:Point guards

Category:Serbian men's basketball players

Category:21st-century Serbian sportsmen