Topic: 'My dream for many years has been to play for Crvena Zvezda' / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Topic talked about a variety of topics after his return to Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade from loan on Mega MIS Belgrade.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Nikola Topic, one of the most anticipated NBA Draft picks for 2024, returned from Mega MIS Belgrade, where he was on loan, to his team Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

Nikola Topic

Team:Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradePosition:PGAge:18Height:195 cmWeight:91 kgBirth place:Novi Sad, SerbiaProfileNewsStatistics

Being closely watched by NBA scouts, the generational guard talent was interviewed by ESPN, where he talked about a variety of topics.

First off, the guard talked about what motivated his return.

"My dream for many years has been to play for [Crvena Zvezda]. I grew up a fan of this club," Topics stated.

"It will mean everything for me to play in front of 20,000 [Crvena Zvezda] fans. I couldn't say no to playing basketball in the EuroLeague," he explained, recognizing the pull factor of the continent's top basketball competition.

Topic also talked about the risks involved with making a jump to the EuroLeague in a time period that can be considered early and in an important role after Shabazz Napier's departure.

"It's a huge risk, but I'm ready. I'm confident in myself 100%," the Serbian was trusting of himself. "My father, my agent, Misko Raznatovic, and I understand that this move could affect my draft chances if I don't do well. But I'm ready to compete and fight."

At the moment, the guard has been unable to talk to Crvena Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos, but Topic seems eager to follow the lead of the Greek specialist.

"Whatever he says, I'll do. If he says to die on the court, I will die. Whatever [the] coach needs, I'll try my best to do it."

Making his jump to the EuroLeague this early and to a team that might have the roster potential to make it to the playoffs and possibly even the Final Four, Topic's situation is much comparable to that of Luka Doncic.

The Slovenian star dazzled in Real Madrid, where he won both regular season MVP and Final Four MVP trophies in the 2017-18 season, which ended with the royalty team's championship.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade / Schedule

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade92-98 Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradeThu19:15 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradeTue17:45

"Luka Doncic is a great player. He said that scoring in the EuroLeague is tougher than in the NBA. I don't know if I agree with him, but now I'll be able to see for myself in six months," Topic said.

"He is for sure one of the players I look up to," he spoke, revealing his admiration of Doncic. "I love the way he's leading the team. But everyone is different. I cannot reach his level," Topic said humbly.

"Of course, I like it when people talk about our similarities because he's one of the best players in the world."

Even though the young guard stated that he had not witnessed the EuroLeague enough to comment on whether it was harder to score there or not, he still had some thoughts about the continent's best basketball tournament.

"Basketball is a game of decisions. It's a mental game. Using angles. The player that makes a faster decision, that person will win," he said. "The EuroLeague is a mind game. It's a game of reads."

Finally, the generational talent commented on his NBA Draft process, which is a phenomenon that is often scrutinized today with players such as Victor Wembanyama, Izan Almansa, and Zaccharie Risacher realizing highly-publicized signings with teams before their draft year.

For Topic, the EuroLeague motto of "Every Game Matters" has seemingly taken priority.

"I'm not thinking of that [the 2024 NBA Draft] at all. That's far away. Five to six months. I'm looking at the next game. I'm thinking about Panathinaikos right now."

While he was at Mega MIS in the ABA League, Nikola Topic recorded averages of 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting field goals at 52.4%

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