Spurs prospect profile: Nikola Topić

What’s some extent guard? Do they nonetheless exist? What do they do? In a close to position-less NBA it’s questionable that lead guards are necessary when so many gamers on the ground could make performs and provoke an offensive set. As groups get greater and extra versatile, the significance of a floor-general and lead ball-handler has develop into murkier for NBA entrance places of work.

But, you look across the NBA playoffs and see Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Jamaal Murray, Kyrie Irving and Mike Conley Jr. contribute to successful. Possibly now we have overthought the roster-building equation. What if, and listen to me out right here, a long time of basketball that includes the purpose guard in a vital function point out that the place is one which shouldn’t be handled as an afterthought.

The San Antonio Spurs must be the poster youngster for what a crew seems to be like with no main ball-handler. For 25 video games they tried to play Jeremy Sochan as a non-traditional level guard/ahead hybrid. The consequence was the franchises worst dropping streak. Tre Jones crammed the place admirably, however profiles as a high-end backup going ahead. Addressing the purpose guard place is a precedence for San Antonio this offseason. If they’re searching for a real ground normal with the potential to develop into one thing extra, Nikola Topić must be on their radar.

Topić is among the most attention-grabbing prospects within the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6 level guard was a standout for Mega MIS within the Adriatic League or ABA (the place Nikola Jokic performed from 2012-2015.) He performed so nicely within the 2023-24 season, that he was picked up by KK Crvena Zvezda a crew that performs within the ABA and EuroLeague, which means Topić would play higher expertise. A knee damage saved him out for 3 months, which means we haven’t seen him play a lot for his new squad.

Since getting back from damage, Crvena Zvezda has introduced Topić off the bench. He has struggled to get again into peak type. In his final recreation towards his former crew, Mega, Topić had 4 factors and three assists in simply 12 minutes. What’s worse, Topić reaggravated that knee damage on Monday. ESPN reported on Tuesday that Topić was identified with a sprained knee, which means he averted main damage. Nonetheless, the non-contact damage may elevate some purple flags round Topić’s medicals main as much as the daft.

As a result of there hasn’t been numerous tape on Topić with Crvena Zvezda, stats and movie for this profile will come principally from his time with Mega.

Nikola Topić, 6-foot-6 guard, KK Crvena Zvezda

2023-2024 ABA (Mega) stats: 18.4 factors, 7.1 assists, 1.0 steal, 52.3% FG, 25.9% 3PT, 85.5% FT, 67.9% EFG

Participant comparability: Goran Dragic, Milos Teodosić

Strengths

Topić has wowed scouts along with his passing potential. He’s one of the best passer within the 2024 Draft class. Whether or not it’s in transition, out of the choose and roll or simply on dive and kicks, the Serbian guard is adept at getting the ball to open teammates. Take a look at this go from Mega’s scrimmage with USC final summer time.

He has excessive endurance and the imaginative and prescient to seek out open teammates. He’s a elementary passer who can toss the ball with both hand precisely the place scorers want it. He’s able to making put up entry passes from the highest of the important thing and the wings. His instincts are actually superior for an 18-year-old.

The place Topić actually shines is the choose and roll. He averages 1.02 factors per possession within the motion, taking pictures 55% on pictures coming from the PnR. His processing potential in that motion is particular for such a younger participant. He performs with nice tempo because the ball-handler. Topić has a fast step and may get downhill with actual burst, however he’s additionally able to slowing down and discovering the open man. If a protection blitzes, he has the power to increase the play and skip the ball to a teammate. He received’t punish many defenses in drop protection along with his taking pictures, however he reads the protection very well, making skip passes excessive or discovering an angle for the curler. In some ways, his processing within the PnR jogs my memory of an older Goran Dragic, or his Crvena Zvezda teammate, Milos Teodosić.

Pairing that really feel for the sport along with his body makes him an thrilling prospect. At 6-foot-6 with lengthy arms, Topić will be capable of create angles for himself that different level guards can’t. His pace going north to south mixed along with his comfortable contact on the rim makes him a risk to attain as nicely. Along with his lengthy arms, he typically goes to scoop layups on the finish of fast drives to the rim. He’s not very explosive vertically, however his size makes up for that deficiency a bit.

Weaknesses

Topić’s body and really feel for the sport make him a top-5 prospect within the 2024 class. That doesn’t imply that the guard is with out his faults. Topić is a poor three-point shooter who hasn’t shot over 30% from deep at any stage {of professional} play. His launch level is inconsistent, and he has a bizarre jumper that’s getting in two totally different instructions. Decelerate Topić’s launch and also you’ll discover he shoots the ball means out in entrance of his face whereas concurrently leaning again.

There’s some room for optimism round Topić’s jumper. He’s a profession 87.1% shooter from the free throw line and shows wonderful contact across the basket. There are moments the place Topić will hit a formidable pull-up three when defenders go beneath a display. All of these flashes point out that Topić has the potential to be a risk from deep ultimately, however there are some clear mechanical points for the 18-year-old guard to repair earlier than he will get there.

That challenge along with his soar shot is exacerbated by his restricted offensive repertoire. It’s uncommon to see Topić end a play within the mid-range. He doesn’t shoot numerous pull-ups and hasn’t confirmed a lot of a floater or runner within the paint. It’s just about get to the basket or nothing for him proper now. That may very well be an issue towards NBA defenses who’re already susceptible to packing the paint on San Antonio.

Off the ball Topić has a behavior of standing and ready to get it again. For as good as he’s with the ball in his palms, he hasn’t proven as a lot slicing and transferring off the ball that good gamers are inclined to inherently do nicely. Mix that along with his poor catch and shoot three-point shot (33% on open C&S jumpers) and also you’ll begin to surprise what Topić’s function is with out the ball in his palms.

It’s a must to surprise if that lack of off-ball urgency comes from a conditioning challenge. Topić appears to drift out and in of video games on the defensive and offensive ends. When he locks in defensively, he can persist with ball handlers and make performs off the ball. He locked up a number of of USC’s faster guards off the bounce final summer time. Different occasions he’s blown by as a result of he’s not closing out correctly or in a defensive stance. Topić is aware of the place to be off the ball defensively, however typically occasions is simply too sluggish to get into place to make a play. He’s hesitant to be bodily defensively and virtually by no means grabs a 50-50 ball or sticks his nostril into a tricky play.

Topić has damage considerations on prime of his on-the-court weaknesses. The crew that drafts him will have to be positive the knee is wholesome. He already gave the impression to be missing burst after the primary knee damage. If he’s not capable of get a few of that again after repeat accidents to the identical knee, that would hamper his recreation fairly a bit.

Spurs match

Of all of the groups who may very well be affected person with Topić’s accidents, it might be San Antonio. They’ve two picks within the lottery, loads of belongings and cap house to accumulate some extent guard this summer time. Jones continues to be a succesful cease hole in a worst-case situation. If his knee is an actual challenge, they might draft Topić, let him rehab for a 12 months, then play him within the 2025-26 season. They must really feel actually comfy with Topić’s medicals for that situation to play out. The extra necessary query is about his slot in San Antonio.

Sure the Spurs want some extent guard, however what sort of lead guard do they want? San Antonio desires the ball in Wembanyama’s palms as a lot as potential. Do they really want a guard whose finest offensive affect comes with the ball in his palms? What if Topić by no means shoots the ball successfully from deep? The Spurs can’t afford to have one other participant opposing groups don’t need to respect whereas Wembanyama has the ball within the half-court.

If San Antonio selects Topić, they’ll be betting that he can develop into a very good shooter and be taught to play off the ball of their system. If that occurs, he and Wembanyama would develop into probably the most enjoyable PnR duos within the NBA. The mixture of their passing and basketball IQ would solely elevate the crew round them. Topić’s downhill driving potential would add a pleasant wrinkle to a Spurs offense that usually lacks rim stress.

If he reaches his apex, he matches nicely with the present Spurs roster and may very well be a nightly 10-point and 10-assist man. There are too many “ifs” in Topić’s recreation for him to be a slam dunk choose for San Antonio. If Topić doesn’t develop into a shooter, can’t keep wholesome and doesn’t be taught to be extra lively with out the ball in his palms, he may wind up being somebody the Spurs remorse taking with a top-10 choose.

Earlier Prospects:

Rob Dillingham

Reed Sheppard