Two highly anticipated members of the 2024 NBA Draft class, Nikola Topic and DaRon Holmes II, are finally set to make their much-awaited regular season debuts, following an unfortunate series of injuries that sidelined them for the entire 2024-25 campaign. While other first-year players like Stephon Castle and Ajay Mitchell made significant impacts, Topic and Holmes endured a year of recovery, now eager to showcase their talents and vie for rookie accolades in the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
Nikola Topic, the promising 19-year-old Serbian guard, was initially projected as a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft before a torn ACL during the predraft process altered his trajectory. Despite this setback, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him, anticipating his future contributions to their championship-caliber roster. Topic’s collegiate statistics, including 10.8 points and 5.8 assists per game, hinted at his playmaking potential.
His brief Summer League appearance offered a glimpse into his abilities, particularly his impressive passing acumen. While his shooting percentages from the field and beyond the arc showed rust, Topic’s court vision and ability to create opportunities for teammates were on full display, underscoring why the Thunder invested in his talent despite the injury.
For the defending champions, the addition of Topic could provide valuable depth off the bench, especially given the grueling nature of an NBA regular season. If the 6-foot-6 guard can consistently knock down shots and acclimate to the professional pace, he is poised to carve out a meaningful role, potentially allowing the Oklahoma City Thunder to manage minutes for key players like Alex Caruso.
Similarly, DaRon Holmes II, a first-round selection, faced an Achilles tear during his July 2024 Summer League debut, forcing him to miss his entire initial rookie season. Holmes had a stellar collegiate career at Dayton, where he showcased an all-around game averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, demonstrating efficiency with 54.4% field goal shooting and a respectable 38.6% from three-point range.
The Denver Nuggets, already a formidable opponent, bolstered their roster with additions like Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown, and Holmes’s presence further enhances their frontcourt depth. His versatile skillset, combining scoring, rebounding, and defensive prowess, makes him an intriguing prospect who could contribute significantly to the Nuggets’ rotational scheme as he gains experience in the NBA.
Both Nikola Topic and DaRon Holmes II enter the 2025-26 campaign with a unique opportunity to compete for the Rookie of the Year award, a rare situation for players whose draft class peers have already completed their first professional seasons. Their journeys highlight the resilience required in professional sports and the determination to overcome significant obstacles early in their careers.
The anticipation surrounding their delayed professional debuts is palpable, as basketball enthusiasts eagerly await to see how these two talented individuals will integrate into their respective teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, and what impact they will ultimately have on the competitive landscape of the NBA.
