Congratulations: Nikola Topic is now the first player to win an NBA title before playing an NBA game
Congratulations are in order for Nikola Topić, who has etched his name into basketball history with an unprecedented accomplishment that no player before him has ever achieved. The Serbian sensation, just freshly drafted into the NBA, is now the first player in league history to win an NBA title before ever stepping foot on the hardwood in a regular-season or playoff game. It’s a storyline so improbable, so cinematic, that even the most imaginative sportswriters would hesitate to pitch it. And yet, it’s real. It has happened. Nikola Topić is officially an NBA champion before playing a single second of NBA basketball.
For context, Topić was selected in the 2024 NBA Draft with the 12th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his rights were swiftly traded to the Denver Nuggets—a franchise that has transformed into one of the league’s most formidable juggernauts thanks to the transcendent brilliance of Nikola Jokić, the three-time MVP, and Finals MVP leader of Denver’s golden generation. Topić, a gifted 6-foot-6 guard from Serbia, shares not only a country with Jokić but now a championship ring as well, even though his NBA career technically hasn’t started yet.
The mechanics of this historic quirk began with a rare trade involving a stash-and-develop plan. Topić, who was already battling a lingering knee injury that would sideline him for most of the 2024-25 season, remained overseas after being drafted. Denver, enamored with his long-term potential, made the calculated move to acquire his rights with the understanding that he wouldn’t suit up right away. In most cases, this type of move plays out in the shadows, quietly, until the player arrives years later. But this time, something extraordinary happened: the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals in dominant fashion.
The timing couldn’t have been more cinematic. As Topić continued his rehab and skill development in Europe, his name remained on the Nuggets’ official roster after the trade was finalized. According to NBA rules, a player whose rights are held by a team and who is under contract—even a two-way or delayed international agreement—can be considered part of that team’s championship roster if the front office includes them in postseason filings. And Denver did just that. They made sure Topić was part of the family from Day One, and now, that loyalty has paid off with an indelible footnote in league history.
This moment has stirred up basketball fandom across the globe, not just because of the surreal nature of it, but also due to what it might represent—a new era of global talent integration in the NBA. The league has steadily opened its doors wider to international stars over the last three decades, and players like Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and of course, Nikola Jokić have become global icons. Topić’s sudden championship status only further fuels the idea that Europe is not just a breeding ground for talent—it’s an extension of the NBA’s global pipeline.
But accolades aside, what exactly makes Nikola Topić so special? Why were the Nuggets willing to place a championship bet on someone who hadn’t yet played in the league? The answer lies in his unique blend of court vision, pace control, and unteachable instincts. While most 18-year-olds still struggle with decision-making in high-leverage moments, Topić plays like a veteran with ice in his veins. His Euroleague performances with KK Crvena zvezda and Mega Basket showed glimpses of a future maestro: a lead guard who doesn’t just play the game—he orchestrates it.
He’s been praised by scouts for his ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes and his understanding of angles. He’s not the kind of player who wows you with one thunderous dunk or a deep three, but rather the type that slowly builds a masterpiece possession by possession, much like Jokić. Perhaps that’s part of what drew Denver to him—the subtle brilliance, the high IQ, the almost mathematical nature of his approach to the game. He fits the mold of a Nuggets player not just in terms of talent, but in ethos.
As expected, this achievement has triggered a wave of both admiration and curiosity. Social media exploded the moment the NBA confirmed Topić’s inclusion on Denver’s official champion roster. Memes about “winning before playing” flooded timelines, with fans joking that Topić now holds the record for the most efficient NBA career ever—100% title rate. Others drew comparisons to darkly humorous footnotes in sports history, like players who were drafted into championship teams but never played due to injuries, retirements, or other reasons. But none of those scenarios come close to the clarity and legitimacy of Topić’s case.
This is not a charity ring. It’s not a retroactive add-on. It’s a full-fledged championship accolade earned through smart scouting, international collaboration, and a modern NBA rulebook that recognizes evolving global structures. Denver’s decision to include him says more about their belief in his long-term role than it does about luck or coincidence. It’s a move that blends respect, foresight, and a little bit of history-making swagger.
