Nikola Topic went into the Thunder’s preseason opener already facing an uphill climb, and Tuesday only made the road look steeper.
The issue isn’t just health anymore. Topic was sidelined against the Pelicans with a back ailment, and even without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso in the lineup, Oklahoma City still got strong guard play from a crowded group that keeps squeezing the young point guard out of the picture.
Ajay Mitchell started things off well, scoring 11 points and handing out four assists while hitting 50.0 percent of his threes. Jared McCain matched that momentum with 12 points and five assists, knocking down four of eight from deep.
Then the rookie duo of Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix added another layer of pressure. Stirtz made his presence felt all over the floor and finished with 15 points and six assists on 66.7 percent shooting, while Dix showed off the kind of off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot ability that stands out fast.
That matters because the Thunder’s offseason trades had created the appearance of a path for Topic. With Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe moved in separate deals, there was a belief that minutes would open up and Topic could claim a real role.
Instead, the opener suggested the opposite. Rather than a clean runway, Topic may be fighting a deeper, younger crowd for the same leftover opportunities.
Heading into 2026-27, he already sits behind Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Mitchell, McCain, and Caruso in the backcourt pecking order. And if Stirtz keeps building on this kind of showing, Topic could realistically fall even farther down the line by the time preseason wraps.
It has been a brutal start to his NBA life overall. Since entering the league, Topic has appeared in just 10 games and logged 160 minutes. Based on what Tuesday showed, that rough stretch may not be ending anytime soon.
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