[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni. The initial report is from the 2022-2023 season, but the player withdrew from the 2023 draft class. Updates based on the 2023-24 season are at the bottom.]

Nikola Đurišić
Frame: 6’8″, 214 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Mega (Serbia)
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via RealGM

Offense

With the playoffs in full effect and Nikola Jokic, a Serbian, dazzling nightly, scouts search the country for every potentially talented basketball player available. The spotlight now falls on Đurišić, who averaged 13 points and just under four rebounds this year, adding just under four assists.

He can handle the ball well on the wing and, with his height, shoot over smaller defenders. His physical play also allows him to back down a shorter player into the mid-post so he can operate.

Đurišić is not the best athlete, but his physical tools, basketball IQ, and length can compensate for those shortcomings. He is not afraid of contact or physical play, acts as a resourceful connector on his team, and should see a similar role at the next level.

He shoots around 50 percent from the field but only 70 percent from the free-throw line. His three-point shooting must become more consistent, so defenses play him honestly. Shot mechanics are compact and repeatable with a high release point, so with continued repetition, percentages should improve.

Đurišić runs the floor exceptionally well, especially spacing to the wings, allowing him to get his own shots up or facilitate for his team. His off-ball action and movement free him up for open looks, and he’s decent in the pick-and-roll for a young player. With his shot mechanics being what they are, Đurišić can become a highly effective spot-up shooter, adding a further dimension to his game.

While he still has much to improve, he has the foundation to be a successful role player at the next level. He sees the floor well, but his timing is delayed in making the correct pass, leading to excessive turnovers. Processing the game quicker will come with more time on the court. Getting that under control and becoming a more skilled finisher at the rim will allow him to remain on the court longer to impact the game.

Defense

Đurišić has the build and length to defend wings or forwards, but his footspeed is lacking. This also allows small guards to beat him off the dribble relatively easily, though his size can sometimes give him the ability to make up for it.

His ability to disrupt an offense and get steals is impressive and can grow into pieces of his game that keep him on the floor longer. He averaged just over one steal per game this season, but that was a 50 percent improvement over the prior year, now with 10 more minutes played on average. More reps will allow Đurišić to become more accustomed to seeing the game slow down and find his points of attack defensively.

He does possess a high basketball IQ and sees the floor well, but Đurišić’s decision-making and speed hamper him. With continued growth and more acclimation to the game’s speed, he should improve at chasing opponents and affecting the game more on the defensive end.

Looking Ahead

Overall, Đurišić looks to project as a skilled combo wing who can handle the ball in a pinch. He is looking like a second-round draft pick at this moment. Đurišić may overachieve his draft status as the tools are there. He can have a very successful career with improved shooting and catching up to the game’s speed.

His shooting touch will most certainly translate quicker than the rest of the skills, but as that efficiency and confidence build, the rest should follow. Last year, playing against Overtime Elite in front of NBA personnel allowed Đurišić to showcase his versatility on the floor. In 2022, he was named the EuroLeague Next Generation Tournament MVP.

Though the comparison at this moment ends at their first name, both Đurišić and Nikola Jokić have similarities in their initial scouting reports and some of the same question marks as well with their ability to match the speed of the game and keep conditioning where it needs to be. If Đurišić takes advice and the desire to succeed that Jokić possesses, he may very well become a player many teams regret passing on.

—Max Rosenberg

Update

Đurišić was projected as high as the first-round pick in last year’s draft, especially after a strong performance in the exhibition game against the Thompson twins to start the season, but stunned everyone by pulling out just before the withdrawal deadline. This year was supposed to help him address his issues, but playing alongside Serbia’s leading talent, Nikola Topić, didn’t help. Đurišić’s usage and productivity decreased, and he hasn’t emerged as attractive a prospect. However, after Topić left Mega to play for Red Star, Đurišić has improved from 11.3 to 16.5 points per game while also improving his shooting efficiency.

His decision-making is still a significant issue, as he usually commits more turnovers than assists and looks pre-determined with the ball in his hands. His defense and body language also remain concerning. 

Đurišić is a product of Serbia’s most influential agent, Miško Ražnatović, so he still deserves consideration, but it’s trending towards the late second-round/undrafted range and further development through the G League.

—Mikhail Ratts