Nikola Topic, a 6’7” guard from Serbia, has recently suffered a setback in the form of an injury that could impact his draft stock. Topic’s agent confirmed that he has a partial tear of his left ACL, which he sustained earlier this year while playing for his club team, Red Star Belgrade. Despite taking time off to recover, Topic re-injured his knee after returning to the court for three games.
Although the exact severity of his injury is still unknown, Topic is scheduled to travel to the United States for further evaluation by NBA doctors. They will determine whether surgery is necessary and outline a plan for his recovery. As a result, it is likely that Topic will miss a significant portion, if not the entirety, of the 2024-25 season.
Despite this setback, Topic’s valuable skill set as a tall guard with a crafty dribbling game and strong passing ability is still attractive to NBA teams. However, concerns remain about his shooting and defensive capabilities at the professional level. Ultimately, teams will have to weigh the risks of drafting Topic given his injury against the potential rewards of his on-court talents.
While it may seem daunting for Topic to recover from such an injury and potentially miss out on valuable playing time during the upcoming season, there are some reasons why he remains highly sought after by NBA teams. Firstly, at 6’7”, he stands out among other guards in terms of size and athleticism.
Additionally, Topic’s dribbling skills are second to none; he has been known for making defenders look foolish with just one move or two.
His strong passing ability also sets him apart from other guards in Europe. But despite these strengths, there are concerns about his shooting and defensive capabilities at the professional level.
In conclusion, Nikola Topic remains an intriguing prospect for NBA teams despite suffering an injury earlier this year. While concerns remain about his shooting and defensive abilities at the professional level
