The Oklahoma City Thunder made their 2025-26 NBA preseason debut on Sunday, Oct. 5 in a 135-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets that featured Nikola Topic in a playmaking role. Even amidst calls for patience and perspective, Topic turned a preseason game into a showcase.
Time will reveal how ready Topic is to thrive against NBA rotations, but his preseason debut was a captivating sign of how dynamic a player he could be.
Topic finished the win over the Hornets with 10 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal in 31 minutes of action. He struggled with his jump shot, but created consistent penetration and displayed the court vision that made him a lottery pick in 2024.