Inside a nearly empty gym, Nikola Topic can be seen from a distance. Almost a year removed from his May 2024 ACL tear, he spent his Friday morning with shooting coach Chip Engelland. The 19-year-old has rehabbed in the background of a title contender.
While the Oklahoma City Thunder ran away with the first seed and set all types of NBA records, Topic has spent his first year in a pseudo-redshirt season. Considering how stacked their roster is, they could afford to be patient and take a swing on the projected 2024 top-five pick before his knee injury plummeted his draft stock to the No. 12 slot.
While torn ACLs were once scary and career-altering, that isn’t the case anymore. Sure, it’s a bump in the road that knocks a year out of someone’s career, but the success rate afterward is high enough to avoid worrying about any long-term limitations.
The Thunder hope Topic can be a primary ball-handler. That’s been a weak spot on their roster this season. The 6-foot-6 guard was viewed as the best playmaker. His shooting form is also leagues ahead of most long-term projects. A year with Engelland will only help with that.
Kenrich Williams has had a first-row seat to Topic’s recovery. The 30-year-old mentioned how much he’s added to his frame in his year away from basketball.
“That dude is working every day behind the scenes,” Williams said. “You can tell his body is changing. He’s getting a little bigger. He’s itching to get back, but you got to be grateful he’s able to get back and play, and do the things he’s doing right now.”
Kenrich Williams on Nikola Topic’s recovery this season. Said he’s hit the weight room a lot: “You can tell his body is changing. He’s getting a little bigger.” pic.twitter.com/YLokSNwZvg
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) March 21, 2025
The Thunder have a recent example to point to Topic a redshirt season won’t derail a career. Chet Holmgren missed his first year after he suffered a Lisfranc injury. The next year, he made an immediate impact as one of the three best players for a title contender.
As Topic clears hurdles and returns to form, expect him to be the Thunder’s biggest 2025 summer league storyline. That will likely be the first time he’ll suit up for the franchise. Maybe he’ll play alongside other lottery teammates depending on how the lottery shakes out.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Kenrich Williams impressed with Nikola Topic’s rehab, has added weight