Nikola Topić, a highly skilled 6-6 point guard with significant potential as a playmaker, was once projected as a top-5 pick before sustaining an injury. Recently, his agent Misko Raznatovic confirmed the news of his partially torn ACL in his left knee to ESPN. Despite this setback, Topić’s long-term upside and potential may still keep him in the lottery picks.
At just 18 years old, Topić was considered one of the top prospects for the upcoming NBA draft. However, Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek adjusted her mock draft following the announcement of his injury, dropping him from No. 4 to No. 11. Nevertheless, Topić’s talent and potential make him an appealing prospect for NBA teams.
Despite being sidelined for three months earlier in the season due to a knee injury before returning to play with Red Star Belgrade, Topić reinjured his knee after just three games back, leading to the revelation of his ACL tear. Despite this setback, Topić’s impressive performance during his time with Mega MIS in Serbia showcased his skills as he averaged 18.4 points, 7.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and one steal per game while maintaining impressive shooting percentages of 52.3% from the field, 85.5% from the free-throw line and 25.9% from three-point range. His potential as a versatile playmaker at such a large size makes him an intriguing prospect for NBA teams.
Following his medical examination at the NBA draft combine in Italy, Topić will be traveling to the U.S for further evaluation by team doctors before making any decisions regarding surgery or recovery steps.
In conclusion, Nikola Topić’s talent and potential make him an attractive option for NBA teams despite setbacks like injuries that could affect his draft standing but if he can recover and continue to perform at high levels it is safe to say he could still be a desirable pick for teams in the draft
