Potential top NBA Draft pick Nikola Topic can breathe sigh of relief after injury scare

Nikola Topic is projected to be one of the first players off the board come time for the 2024 NBA Draft on June 26. However, a recent injury scare on Monday left Topic and executives from NBA teams holding their breath while they awaited to see the results of his injury.

The good news is that he avoided a serious injury, with his initial diagnosis revealing a sprained left knee that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the championship series, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. There is optimism that Topic will be available to participate in the NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy, on June 6, where NBA teams will be able to get a closer look at and evaluate the Serbian guard.

While playing in Game 1 of the AdmiralBet ABA League Finals with Serbian club KK Crvena zvezda, Topic drove to the basket with his left hand before passing the ball to the corner. At that moment, the 18-year-old guard seemed to collapse to the ground after his left leg gave out on him. Initially, it seemed like Topic was alright, but then he was in a considerable amount of pain and was face down on the court for a couple of minutes before being helped to the locker room.

It is worth noting that Topic suffered a left knee ligament injury in January that sidelined him for nearly four months.

There is a lot to like about Topic as a draft prospect. Topic is a lengthy guard at 6-foot-7 who is the most complete and NBA-ready guard in this year's draft class in terms of his offensive skills. When the ball is in Topic's hands, good things tend to happen. Topic is capable of making any pass, and teams have not been shy about calling him the best facilitator at the top of this draft class. He is also a strong scorer when he is able to get to the rim with his length.

Along with French wing Zaccharie Risacher, who is also expected to be one of the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic was forced to miss the NBA Draft Combine this week due to his international club's season not being over. It will be interesting to see if this knee sprain Topic is now dealing with will impact his immediate draft stock.

Once thought to be a candidate to go first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic may wind up falling in the lottery as a result of his left knee injury. Topic, who ranks sixth on ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0, was recently projected to go fourth overall to the San Antonio Spurs in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0, which was released on Monday.