Nikola Topić fell just short of suiting up for Serbia in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Championship after the Oklahoma City Thunder guard was left off the final 12-man roster.
Topić, who was named to the preliminary roster, participated with the team in training camp before starting its seven-game exhibition schedule. He played sparingly, though he recorded two points, seven assists and six rebounds on Aug. 10 in a win over Cyprus.
The 20-year-old has represented Serbia twice at the junior level, most recently in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship. He is projected to be in the mix for future tournaments with the senior team as one of the top up-and-coming players in the country.
Topić was the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft after playing with Crvena zvezda in the ABA League. He was sidelined all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL suffered while playing in the ABA League Finals on May 13, 2024.
The 6-foot-6 guard debuted in the Salt Lake City Summer League last month, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, three rebounds and two steals in three appearances. He posted a similar average in three games in Las Vegas: 11 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
Topić will now look ahead to his rookie campaign with the Thunder, which is set to tip off on Oct. 21. The team is excited to get him back on the court and contribute as it looks to defend its first-ever championship.