NBA Comparison: Vasilije Micic

Strengths: Lead guard with good size for his position as a 6-6 point guard … Plays games at a high pace and his style is contagious to his teammates…Knows how to control the tempo of the game … Really mature for his age … Great feel for the game … Has high basketball I.Q … Not an elite athlete by NBA standards, but has sneaky athleticism that helps him against athletic opponents in ISO and Pick and Roll situations … Playmaking is in his blood … An elite passer with great court vision, his passing is the most translatable skill at the next level… Knows his way around ball screens and takes advantage of any situation… A Pick and Roll maestro and a great decision maker already at a young age, he can either find the rolling big, a player on the weak side or finish the play himself … If he is surrounded with a rolling big and three shooters, he can be lethal … He can make almost every pass thanks to his size, instincts and I.Q … A joy to watch in transition as the ball handler, he knows how to keep his teammates happy… Loves to attack the basket and is a very good – and creative – finisher in the paint despite the fact that he has below average athleticism … Draws a lot of fouls due to playing style … Has shown potential as a shooter in Pull Up 3s, if he manages to become more consistent, he could become a 3-level scorer … His free throw percentage is in the mid 80’s, which is encouraging for his development as a shooter … Strong rebounder for his position … Knows how to use his size to make up for lack of speed on defense … Smart defender, can jump passing lanes and make steals …

Weaknesses: He is considered an average athlete by NBA standards … Has a good  – but not great – first step, which could make it difficult for him to blow by and create his own shot at the next level against quicker, more athletic opponents … He has to bulk up a little to sustain the physicality and pace of the NBA… Can have some problems against aggressive ball pressure from smaller guards … Finishing against contact could become an issue on the next level against elite length and athleticism … He has to add a more dependable floater in his arsenal to be able to use… He is an inconsistent shooter from mid-range for now … Not really a threat in Spot Up 3s … Shooting numbers have not proven that he is above average, despite a solid looking stroke … He needs the ball in his hands to be more effective for now, he might struggle on  the next level at first if he plays off the ball … He must prove that he can make Pull Up shots consistently against Drop coverages in Pick and Rolls on the next level if he wants to unlock his true potential and become the best version of himself … Defense figures to be one of his major challenges facing the speed of NBA guards … Has average lateral quickness by NBA standards … It is a question mark who he will guard on the next level… He could raise his intensity on the defensive end at times …Has problems against smaller, quicker opponents on defense … Gets stuck behind ball screens in Pick and Rolls at times, leaving the ball handler open… Has problems chasing players around screens … Off ball defense needs work, at times he is too focused on the ball and loses his player… Bigger opponents can punish him in the post …

Outlook: Nikola Topic is considered one of the best international players of his generation, who has been exposed to the senior level at a very young age and didn’t just hold his ground, but actually excelled … A true Pick and Roll maestro, who can make every pass, Topic is a special playmaker, who is a consistent Jump Shot away from becoming a real offensive threat … Enters the NBA draft with a lot of hype, but missed a lot of what was supposed to be both a developmental season playing against the best in Europe as well as a “prove it” season, in which he never really proved it at the highest level (for Red Star as opposed to Mega) … has a special quality which will likely make him a star in Europe if he doesn’t have the wares for the NBA level …

Notes: Reported to have a 7-foot wingspan, but in fact his wingspan is closer to his height (in the neighborhood of 6-5 to 6-6) … Only played 2 games for Red Star after transferring from Mega MIS, due to injury ….

Stefanos Makris 5/8/24