Upsides

He is the most dynamic playmaker in the draft by a considerable margin. He effectively runs the pick and roll, is very good at making skip passes, and has shown off some mind boggling vision. I’m willing to say Topic is the best passer we’ve seen since Josh Giddey, who was legitimately one of the best passers we’ve ever seen in a draft class. Topic isn’t quite at the same level, but he is not far off. I believe Topic had the potential to be one of the best passers in the NBA, maybe even one of the best passers ever.

There have been doubts cast upon his scoring ability, but I fully buy into his finishing ability translating to the NBA. He has a really good first step, is fast enough to get by anyone, and is a very talented under the rim finisher. He also has flashed a lot of potential with his shiftiness, which would make him even more impossible to stop if what we’ve seen in Europe translates to the NBA.

I think he’ll be a good mid-range shooter in the NBA. He can stop on a dime and has shown more willingness to take pull up jumpers, which he has been able to make.

Topic doesn’t get enough credit for his team defense. A lot of players his age, especially guards, struggle with ball watching. Topic, on the other hand, stays very aware of what’s going on around him while also not losing track whoever he is guarding.

The level of intelligence this kid has on the basketball court is nearly unheard of for somebody his age. He doesn’t make very many mistakes, and he’s been good at correcting the ones he does make. He also almost always makes the best possible pass in any given situation. Unless he is put in a bad situation, I think Topic will always manage to find some sort of role on an NBA team because of his intelligence and passing ability.

Downsides

There are some positive signs that his 3-point shooting will improve, but right now he just isn’t good in that area. He obviously prefers to pass the ball or drive to the rim, and he hadn’t been very efficient when he does take threes.

He struggles as an on-ball defender right now. He is easily outmuscled and gets thrown off by contact really easily.

I’d like to see him use his ball handling creativity more. He is a talented ball handler, but he tends to go for things like straight line drives more than he should.

Conclusion

Best team fits: Washington, Utah, San Antonio

Worst team fits: Detroit, Charlotte

Shades of: Manu Ginobili/Tyrese Haliburton hybrid, Goran Dragic

Topic is a great offensive player. He’s an incredible passer and transition ball handler, and this is where he thrives most. He’s a great ball handler in the half court as well, and I’ve seen him have some nasty crossovers to get to the rim. He has an incredibly quick first step, and that gets him to the rim at will, but his finishing is something to watch, because he hasn’t finished well when I’ve been watching. However, his incredible passing gives him a ceiling as an offensive quarterback and a floor as a connector? His shooting isn’t good, he’s about 30% on the season and his form is shaky, but that can improve with time. I could see him being a point guard or a wing in the nba, he’s a good enough passer to be a PG but might thrive as a slasher and connective passer. His floor is low, and he could struggle to get minutes without a jumper, finishing ability, or defense. His defense is fine, he’s a great athlete who’s in great shape, but he struggles with balance and body positioning and he picks up fouls because of that. They have him full court pressing the opposing teams PG though so that’s a good sign. Topic is an elite passer and has an elite first step and he can turn that skill set into a productive nba player, even without a jumper or great defense

Comp: Tyrese Halliburton without a jumper

Nikola Topic

[img]http://i.imgur.com/yIf0LHY.png[/img][/url]]()

https://youtu.be/kxXdCEV8EoA?si=5l7RYDFPEPk1qCeF

This is my second choice should Spurs get a top 3 pick in the draft. I am not as high on Topic as other Spurs fans. Because I do not know if he will develop a three, improve escaping traps or improving defensively. But if he can, he is the best PG in the top 3.

Tier 1.5 Nikola Topic - Crvena Zvezda / Serbia (PG - HT: 6’6” - WING: 7’0” - WT: )

- Big PG with elite speed with the ball in his hands
- 7’ wingspan as a PG is just too insane to pass up on. Measurables and turnover rate put him ahead of Collier.
- Gets to the rim at will and makes every pass
- Efficient scorer despite a lack of a 3pt game
- Not a good shooter or defender yet, but his positional size and length off-ball can’t be a bad thing
- Shades of Josh Giddey, Tyrese Haliburton without the shooting
- Best fit: Washington, Chicago, Utah, San Antonio
- Worst fit: Detroit, Charlotte, Portland, Toronto

Range: 1-7

Poste(s) : PG

Âge : 18 ans

Taille : 2m00

Stats : 18.6pts, 3.6reb, 6.9ast, 0.9stl, 0.2blk

Adresse : 52%fg, 29%3pt, 85%tf

Capable de marquer en pénétration "comme dans du gruyère", Topic a le profil faux-lent qui rappelle un Doncic et les angles inhabituels avec lesquels il trompe ses adversaires, idem pour sa vision du jeu. L'interrogation concerne son tir, tout comme sa raideur balle en main. Bémols également concernant son (inexistant) mid-range, ses 3pts les pieds bien dans le ciment ou encore sa faible carrure en défense. Le risque ? Plus Giddey que Doncic... "High risk, high reward" typique venu d'Europe.

Tier 1 - Ceiling:

All-Star

Nationality

Serbian

Draft Day Age

18.86

Wingspan

7'0

Avg ranking (top 6 NBA draft sites) 3.3

++I'm not saying Topic will become any of these players - BUT I do see certain aspects that have shades of these players game++

Josh Giddey player's ability to create advantages; A star point guard has to be able to single-handedly crack fissures in a set defense. He's a smart, savvy playmaker. Quick decision-maker as a playmaker. He often receives the ball then instantly makes a pass to an open man, or in pick-and-rolls he’ll toss overhanded hook dimes using either hand to cutters. He's methodical, he particularly is very deliberate in using his ability to stop on a dime and then accelerate immediately after to throw off defenders and it can sometimes look like he's playing in slow motion. But if you watch him in transition with the ball in his hands, he's absolutely dynamic from a speed perspective, at his size, with the ball.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comfort shifting gears all align with SGA on an archetypal level. SGA leads the NBA in drives per game. If Topic gets the minutes and touches, he will fall near the top of that leaderboard, too. Slippery driver who uses subtle pace changes, head fakes, and clean footwork to get into the teeth of the defense. If he needs to put his shoulder into bigger opponents to draw contact, he can do that too.

Manu Ginobili endlessly crafty; absolute handful driving the lane. He can accelerate at the drop of a hat, lessed with a dynamic first step and a preternatural sense of when to press the turbo button. He can just as easily force defenders off-balance with jittery handles, working patiently to find the right angle to the rim. The basketball I.Q. is there

Weaknesses & Reasons Why I'm not worried long-term Topic has to earn respect from 3-point range. Topic also doesn't get vertical. He is going to rely on touch and craft around the basket

he lacks the strength to handle more physical scorers at 6-foot-6. He is going to be stuck between positions on defense at the next level. He needs to add muscle and work on fighting over screens.

Stiff jump shooter. Defenders often sag off him to give him space to launch when he’s spotting up or isolating. He’s reluctant to shoot unless he is open, in part due to his low release. A solid bet to figure it out as a shooter considering his soft touch near the rim and his elite free throw percentage.

He is an extremely intelligent player with a uncanny ability to get to the rim. His understanding of how to manipulate defenses, use little subtle head fakes, acceleration as well as decelerate Just throw off defenders so well....He's not currently a good defender but again he has positional size and enough ethnicism were there still hope on that end and he's a really good free throw shooter which also gives hope for his three-pointer in time.. But one way or another the kid finds a way to play impactful, winning basketball, and that can't be discounted.

• Encouraging defensive effort, anticipation, and hustle, averaging 1.5 to 2.0 steals per game

• Shows potential as a sneaky good defender in the NBA

Interesting facts about Topic His father, Milenko Topic, is a former professional basketball player, head coach and gold medalist with the Yugoslavian National Team.

Stat Comparisons:

16.4 PPG

60.4 TS% on 11.8 FGA

28.2 3PT% on 4.1 FGA

87.9 FT% on 3.9 FTA

7.2 TRB%

34.8 AST%

1.7 STL%

0.6 BLK%

16.5 TO%

24.5 USG%

120.5 ORTG

108.7 DRTG

Overview: Nikola Topic is a 6'6", 190-pound Serbian point guard/combo guard who's currently lighting up the EuroLeague with KK Crvena zvezda. He's considered a top-five prospect for the 2024 NBA Draft, drawing comparisons to Luka Doncic due to his playmaking ability, size, and scoring prowess. His recent mid-season transfer from KK Mega Basket to Crvena zvezda puts him on a bigger stage against tougher competition, raising his draft stock even further. Strengths:

• Elite playmaking: Topic has a wizard-like handle and court vision, able to effortlessly dissect defenses and find open teammates. He can thread pinpoint passes off the dribble or from the post, making him a nightmare to contain.

• Unconventional scoring: While not a pure scorer, Topic can put up points in creative ways. He uses his strong frame to finish through contact, shoots a decent mid-range jumper, and even shows flashes of a developing three-point shot.

• Size and strength: At 6'6", Topic has good size for a guard, allowing him to see over the defense and rebound over smaller players. He's also deceptively strong, able to absorb contact and finish through bigger defenders.

• Basketball IQ and leadership: Topic plays with a high basketball IQ and understands the game at a high level. He makes quick decisions, rarely turns the ball over, and often makes the right play before it develops. He can also lead by example on the court, bringing energy and focus to his teammates. Weaknesses:

• Athleticism: While not slow, Topic doesn't possess the elite athleticism of some top prospects. He might struggle to blow by quicker point guards in the NBA and could rely more on his craftiness and skill to create offense.

• Three-point consistency: As mentioned, Topic's three-point shot is still a work in progress. He can hit them in stretches, but needs to improve his range and shot selection to become a consistent threat from deep.

• Experience: Though playing in the EuroLeague now, Topic is still only 18 years old and has limited experience against NBA-caliber talent. He'll need time to adjust to the physicality and pace of the league. Overall: Nikola Topic is a special talent with the potential to be a star in the NBA. He has all the tools to be a successful point guard: playmaking, scoring, size, and leadership. While he needs to work on his athleticism and three-point shooting, his overall skillset and basketball IQ are already impressive. The team that drafts him will be getting a future floor general who can elevate their offense and lead them to success. Additional Notes:

• Topic was recently called back to Crvena zvezda, the team he grew up supporting, from KK Mega Basket. This move puts him in a higher-pressure environment with more national attention, potentially impacting his draft stock positively.

• Some scouts consider Topic a better fit as a combo guard than a pure point guard due to his size and scoring ability. He could play alongside another lead guard or utilize his scoring skills off the ball. Overall, Nikola Topic is a must-watch player for the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the talent and potential to be a game-changer at the next level.

Strengths:

Easily the best playmaker in this class

Extremely High BBIQ for an 18 year old

Great at getting and finishing at the rim

Can create space for himself somewhat consistently

Weaknesses:

Highly Questionable Shooting

Not super-athletic

Not a great defender, but has potential to grow there

Player Comparisons: Josh Giddey