NBA mismatch: Absurd! Games played: 0, titles won: 1?!

Since early days, children have been taught that everything in life has to be well-earned. This statement is even more accurate for athletes. However, sometimes - very rarely, though - you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

Young Serbian basketball player Nikola Topic has undoubtedly worked hard throughout his career to reach the NBA and join the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, in January 2024, while he was still at his boyhood club KK Crvena Zvezda, the 19-year-old tore his ACL, which caused him to miss the entire 2024/2025 campaign.

NBA earthquake: Durantula traded to the Rockets!

In the meantime, five and a half months after the injury, he was drafted by the Thunder as the 12th overall pick. Oklahoma dominated the league in the recently ended campaign, finished first in the Western Conference in the regular season, and won their maiden NBA Championship, led by the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Co.

Topic made no impact, as he has yet to debut in the NBA, but regardless, he won the trophy, becoming the first-ever player to clinch the NBA title without playing a single game in the season!

The Serbian's recovery is almost finished, and he'll undoubtedly become an integral part of Mark Daigneault's crew once the new campaign starts, though he's already found his place in history books.

In the end, the paradox that shows the cruelty of sports is apparent.

Iconic players like Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Steve Nash, and Allen Iverson, as well as several still active ones, such as James Harden and Chris Paul played dozens - some even over a hundred - playoff games and failed to win the NBA ring. Some even failed to reach the Finals.

Topic won it without spending a second on the court.