Former NBA player Channing Frye has been left impressed with what he has seen from Nikola Topic.
The OKC Thunder player was drafted by the franchise last season, but an ACL injury meant that he would not be able to take the court in their run to win the championship.
However, Nikola Topic returned to action in the NBA Summer League and his performances have left fans amazed.
After his brilliant outings in the first three games, Channing Frye has spoken highly about the Serbian prospect.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty ImagesChanning Frye heaps praise on Nikola Topic’s confidence
The Thunder have been amazing in the Summer League and are 3-0 so far.
Topic has been the star of the campaign, with Ajay Mitchell also stepping up with big performances.
But Topic’s playmaking and defensive resilience has helped him grab a lot of headlines with Frye being the most recent analyst to acknowledge his game.
He said: “I was like, ‘What?’ You know how Jason Kidd used to just catch it and throw it away quick. I have not seen a guy at 19, at his age play with that level of confidence and pace.
“He’d run a screen and roll, and he would take maybe one dribble and throw it.
“He had 10 assists, could have had 14.”
Topic adds to the already strong depth of the OKC Thunder
Topic’s Summer League numbers have been stunning. Although there has been some rustiness due to the year-long absence, his playmaking has been elite.
He certainly would fit in brilliantly in the Thunder backcourt as he contributes on both ends of the floor and will complement MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander well.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently jumped on a broadcast of the game between Thunder and Orlando Magic. He revealed there that scouts told him Topic could have gone top five in this year’s NBA Draft.
The 19-year-old was tipped to be picked higher in the 2024 class, but his ACL injury pushed him a few places lower.
However, his first few glimpses on the NBA floor have made people realise that he is brilliant for his age.
Topic is also extremely confident in his ability and he does not shy away from speaking about it. This was evident in his recent interview after a Summer League game, where the journalist asked Topic about his passing.
He said: “I guess I am just born with it, but as I said before I just learned a lot growing up played always against olders. Having my dad by my side and then older group of playmakers by my side to be my mentors. So I say all that.”
After winning a championship, the Thunder are expected to be the team to beat next season.
Players like Topic will add depth to the already stacked roster the Thunder have, with their Big 3 all having signed max contracts following brilliant performances in the 2024-25 season.