Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Nikola Topić emerged as one of Europe’s most intriguing young guards thanks to his size, court vision, and ability to control the pace of a game. Even at a young age, he showed the composure and playmaking instincts that made him a highly regarded prospect on the international stage.

Here’s the information about Nikola Topić:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Nikola Topić
  • Nationality: Serbian
  • Date of Birth: August 10, 2005
  • Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches (211cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wears #44 (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Position: Point Guard
  • High School: Not applicable; developed through the youth system of Crvena zvezda in Serbia.
  • Professional Career:
    • Crvena zvezda (2022–2024): Joined the youth system in 2020 and progressed to the senior team, becoming the youngest player to score in a EuroLeague game for the club in 2022 at age 16.
    • Mega MIS (2023): Played briefly before returning to Crvena zvezda.
  • NBA Draft: Selected 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  • Teams Played For:
    • Oklahoma City Thunder (2024–present): Currently part of the roster as a rookie.
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Nikola Topic’s player archetype is that of a tall lead guard, the kind of primary initiator who can bend a defense with pace, craft, and constant pressure on the paint. At 6-foot-6, he has excellent size for a ball-handler, and while he is not built around elite burst or vertical pop, he plays with poise, long strides, and real comfort changing speeds. Offensively, his role is clear: he is at his best running pick-and-roll, getting two feet into the lane, finishing with touch, and creating passing windows for teammates once the defense shifts. Defensively, he projects more as a positional team defender than a disruptive stopper, with his size helping him compete even though quickness and point-of-attack resistance remain areas to watch. The overall picture is a smart, controlled floor general whose value comes from orchestrating offense, living in the paint, and making mature reads rather than overwhelming opponents with pure explosiveness. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Watching Nikola Topić, I keep coming back to how rarely he wastes a dribble. Everything feels connected to the next read. He probes pick-and-rolls with unusual patience, keeps defenders on his back for an extra beat, then forces the low man into impossible choices by holding the ball until the last moment before slipping a pass to the roller or firing it to the weak-side corner. That’s where his game separates itself because he isn’t chasing highlight passes; he’s manipulating defensive positioning one movement at a time. His size gives him passing angles that smaller guards simply don’t have, and once he gets two feet in the paint he plays almost like a point forward, seeing over traffic instead of around it. The trade-off is that he doesn’t consistently create separation through raw burst, so disciplined defenders who stay attached can shrink those passing windows and force him into tougher finishes than he’d prefer. As a scorer, he’s more comfortable changing pace than changing direction, using hesitations, long strides and body control to reach the rim while relying on touch instead of elevation. Defensively, there are encouraging possessions where he uses his length to crowd ball handlers and disrupt passing lanes, but lateral quickness can become an issue against smaller guards who attack multiple times in the same possession or force repeated changes of direction. To me, he’s best surrounded by movement shooters and an athletic dive man because his greatest strength is rewarding teammates who stay active rather than standing and watching him operate. It’s easy to overlook how much his tempo controls an offense; he has a knack for slowing chaotic possessions until the defense relaxes, then accelerating the action before anyone has recovered. That isn’t something every lead guard can do. His game carries obvious similarities to Goran Dragić in the way he balances scoring with table-setting, while there are stretches where the patient manipulation of pick-and-roll coverages and oversized playmaking echo Josh Giddey, particularly when he’s orchestrating rather than hunting his own shot.

Sources:

NBA.com — NBA 2024 Draft Prospects | Nikola Topic
NBADraft.net — Nikola Topic
Yahoo Sports — Nikola Topic: NBA draft scouting report and intel
Peachtree Hoops — 2024 NBA draft scouting report: Nikola Topic