The expectations for Nikola Topic’s rookie season in the NBA were sky-high. After all, we’ve seen the second-generation European hoopers like Luka Doncic and Domantas Sabonis take the NBA by storm. However, right before his draft, Topic suffered a knee injury that left him with a partially torn ACL. Owing to this injury, Topic redshirted his rookie season.

But just because he isn’t playing right now doesn’t mean we can’t learn more about him. So today, let’s have a look at his roots — his nationality, ethnicity, and everything else that comes with it!

What is Nikola Topic’s nationality? Where is he from?

Nikola Topic’s father, Milenko, played as a forward in the YUBA league for Crvena Zvezda, Buducnost, and Hemofarm.  He was even a part of the national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics in America.  But there’s a catch. See, Serbia only became a country in 2006. Before that, it was a part of Yugoslavia.

And this was the country Milenko represented. And it was in this very country that his son, Nikola Topic, was born. That said, now that Serbia IS a sovereign nation, Nikola Topic’s nationality is the same as his namesake, Nikola Jokic’s nationality. They’re both Serbian, through and through!

What is Nikola Topic’s ethnicity and religion?

Now, the fact that Topic was born in Yugoslavia should give you some hints to his ethnicity. Quick history lesson, Yugoslavia was created to unite the South Slavic people of Europe. But later, after a lot of political, economic, and social factors converged, the country broke up into several smaller nations. Serbia was one of them. Hence, like most Serbians, Nikola Topic is of Slavic descent.

But unlike his ethnicity, there’s no information about his religion. It seems that’s a part of his life that the Oklahoma City Thunder rookie wants to keep private. And more power to him!

Did Topic play for the Serbian national team?

Yes, Nikola Topic has played for the Serbian National team. His journey on the international stage began at a young age. In August 2021, he played for Serbia’s U-16 national team at the FIBA U16 European Challengers in Novi Sad. Although he played just one game, he made a statement with his performance. He had a blast as he recorded 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in a dominant win over the Czech Republic. This game marked his first taste of international competition. But that was just the beginning of the later greatness to come.

In 2023, the player debuted for the senior Serbian national team. On August 16, he played in a friendly match against Puerto Rico. It was his first appearance on the global stage for his country. Representing Serbia, with its rich basketball tradition, is no small feat.

Moreover, Nikola Topic’s performance against Puerto Rico showed his potential. His talent, poise, and understanding of the game were evident. It wasn’t just about playing for the national team. It was about embracing the weight of representing his country.

The way the junior player broke into such a prestigious program says a lot about his potential. From his debut in 2023 to now making it to the NBA as he continues to grow and develop, Nikola Topic’s presence on the national team will only expand. Will he become a central figure for Serbia in the coming years?