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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Clemente Almanza

Thunder’s Nikola Topic flexes basketball knowledge in TikTok video

Heading into the 2024 NBA draft process, Nikola Topic was tabbed as a high IQ player. This is shown in his playmaking and passing abilities. The 18-year-old has a high ceiling as a lead facilitator.

After he fell to the No. 12 spot due to a torn ACL, the Oklahoma City Thunder must practice patience with Topic as he will miss the 2024-25 season recovering from his knee injury.

But Topic’s basketball knowledge was flexed in the form of a TikTok. He was featured in a video where he was quizzed to name European NBA players.

The 18-year-old showed off his deep library of names as several players he mentioned were either bubble NBA players with short stints or played before his time.

It’s a fun video showing a little of Topic’s personality. It’s evident he’s a basketball savant and that obsessiveness paired with his work ethic gives him a shot to work out for the Thunder.

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