By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being forced to the sidelines for the 2024-25 season and becoming the first player to win an NBA championship without playing a single game, Nikola Topic is healthy and eager to display his talents with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Debuting in the 2025 Salt Lake City Summer League presented by America First Credit Union, the 19-year-old Serbian point guard produced 14 points and dished out four assists. On Monday, in his second showing, he went for 11 points, five assists, three steals, and three rebounds, lasting nearly 28 minutes in a winning effort against the Philadelphia 76ers, 89-78.
“It feels nice to be back, after, of course, some time off the court,” he mentioned in a postgame press conference following the contest in Jon M. Huntsman Center, “A little bit weird. I’m still getting used to it.”
Topic was limited to 2/13 field goals, including 0/6 from beyond the arc.
“Many things I disliked,” he responded to a question about possible room for improvement in various areas, “I’ll work on every one of those things and be better.”
Wrapping up the Salt Lake City Summer League, the Thunder will take on the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
“Just get in a game rhythm,” Topic relayed the overall plan, heading to the 2024-25 Regular Season, “Play back-to-backs, two games in two days, six games in ten days, just to get in that game rhythm and game shape.”
Fellow starter, Belgian Ajay Mitchell logged a team-high 16 points with 3/11 from the field, alongside five assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Dutch Malevy Leons added six points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona tallied four points, three rebounds, one block, and one assist. Spanish Izan Almansa had four points and three rebounds.
Photo Credit: YouTube