Earlier in the offseason, there was a case to be made that OKC Thunder guard Nikola Topic could realistically struggle to carve out a regular spot within coach Mark Daigneault's rotation in 2025-26 due, primarily, to the club's overflowing backcourt depth.
From established cornerstones like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort to promising young talents in Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, and Ajay Mitchell, the guard position is well stocked out in Oklahoma City.
However, as the summer has rolled along, confidence in the 20-year-old's potential to see consistent on-court action in year one seems to be growing, with Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicting that, despite their lack of need for more backcourt prospects, Topic "will push for a rotation spot, anyway."
Following Sunday's preseason opener, it's easy to see why the seasoned writer holds such a belief.
Thunder clearly giving Nikola Topic opportunities to prove himself
Buckley's argument is largely rooted in the idea that the Thunder could realistically benefit from the youngster's distribution and ball-handling abilities, especially when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander "needs a breather."
Frankly, while this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, as these attributes were what made Topic a lottery pick during last year's NBA Draft in the first place, after watching the club's recent exhibition against the Hornets, it's evident that coach Daigneault is interested in seeing what else he can provide on the hardwood.
Though best known as a pure floor general and as a natural on-ball point guard, during Sunday's contest, Topic frequently found himself playing off the ball alongside the night's de facto focal point, Wiggins.
In this role, Topic showcased his ability to move without the rock in his hands, fight for rebounds thanks to his enviable 6-foot-6 frame, and make quick decisions on touch passes (his assist to Jazian Gortman in the fourth period was a great example of these latter two qualities, specifically).
He would also display his ability to serve as a disruptor on the less glamorous side of the ball, swiping one steal while constantly being tasked with defending anyone from 6-foot-7 Brandon Miller to 7-foot-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Topic would eventually wrap up his 31 minutes of action with an impressive stat line of 10 points, 7 assists (game-high), and 4 rebounds on 44.4 percent shooting from the field in OKC's 135-114 win, which, on the surface, could lead those who didn't tune in to believe he played a similar role to the one he had back during Summer League.
However, for the fans who watched, it's clear that Daigneault was freely experimenting with Topic's on-court utilization, likely a strategic decision for the coaching staff to get an early look at how he fares when slotting into less natural, off-ball roles (something he'll often have to do if given a spot within the defending champ's regular rotation).
Topic's showing against Charlotte was certainly a welcome sight to see, and should only add more credence to both Buckley and even SGA's optimism that the redshirted rookie will "find his way into the group."