Thunder Rookie Gets Sage Advice From Rising Star on Rehab Process

The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Nikola Topic knowing he would miss the entire 2024-25 NBA season, the sage advice he got from Chet Holmgren could get him primed for next season.

Nikola Topic speaks during an introductory press conference for the 2024 Thunder draft picks at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June, 29, 2024. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Oklahoma City Thunder lucked into a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft with a savvy trade made with the Houston Rockets. This allowd the Thunder to enjoy a 57 win season which landed them the No. 1 seed out West en route to their first playoff series win since 2016.

With the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft the Thunder selected Nikola Topic, who many believed wasa a top five talent in this class prior to his injuries.

Oklahoma City used this pick understanding Topic would need a redshirt season, something they dealt with when selecting Chet Holmgren with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

The Thunder rookie peppered the big man with questions of how to handle this year off. Holmgren gave great advice.

"Yeah, I did. I talked to [Chet Holmgren] a lot about [The rehab process], and he has been really helpful with that. The main thing he told me was just be patient, and I'm trying to be patient," Topic said.

Though, the rehab process will have some trials, but the 2024 lottery pick explained how the most difficult part will happen off the floor.

"Watching other guys play and not being able to be with them on the court," Topic said when asked at Media Day on Monday about the hardest part of the rehab process.

Topic has been viewed as a top playmaker in the 2024 NBA Draft class and will have to wait a year to prove it.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.