The OKC Thunder held an introductory news conference on Saturday for the three players it selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.

OKC selected Serbia's Nikola Topic (No. 12 overall), Weber State's Dillon Jones (No. 26) and UC Santa Barbara's Ajay Mitchell (No. 38). They'll join a team that went 57-25 this past season and reached the Western Conference semifinals as the top seed.

Here's what each OKC draftee had to say on Saturday.

More: OKC Thunder shows off NBA draftees Nikola Topic, Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell | 3 takeaways

OKC Thunder introductory press conference for 2024 NBA Draft selections

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Nikola Topic ready to be ‘best version of myself’ with OKC

Topic is ready to practice patience with OKC.

After getting selected by the Thunder with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic is expected to miss his entire rookie season. The 6-6 guard suffered a partially torn ACL earlier in the month during his time with Crvena Zvezda, a team in the Serbian League (KLS).

It’s a situation OKC is familiar with. Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, missed all of his rookie campaign due to a Lisfranc foot injury, but he bounced back this past season by playing all 82 regular-season games.

“I’m really grateful that they have experience with Chet, who didn’t play his first season,” Topic said. “We assume that will be the case with me. I’m really, really grateful for the opportunity. I’ll try my best to do my best and be the best version of myself.”

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Dillon Jones took the ‘long road traveled’ to OKC

Jones’ path to OKC hasn’t been an easy one.

Despite being a no-star recruit in 2020, the Columbia, South Carolina, native earned a spot on Weber State’s roster. And after only starting two games as a freshman, he won Big Sky MVP honors as a senior this past season with averages of 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Jones now finds himself with a deep OKC team, and he’ll have to work to carve out a role. But Jones has never shied away from a challenge.

“It was a journey, a long road traveled,” Jones said of his path to the NBA. “When I got to Weber, those were the times that really made me be who I am as a player. … Keep learning, keep growing. That was the journey in a way. ... I'm just excited to try to embark on that and run with this new challenge."

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Ajay Mitchell is all about ‘working hard’ for role with OKC

Few things are guaranteed for second-round selections in the NBA Draft.

They’re often signed to a two-way contract, which is the case with Mitchell, who got selected with the No. 38 overall pick. And they’re tasked with earning their spot on the roster by playing well in Summer League and G League play.

But it can be done, especially in OKC. From Lu Dort to Aaron Wiggins, numerous Thunder players have gone from second-round/undrafted selections to key players in the rotation.

Now, Mitchell hopes to continue that trend after spending three seasons at UC Santa Barbara.

“I’m really excited,” Mitchell said. “This team has done it before with players in my position. ... It’s all about working hard, doing my part and being ready at any time. I’m really excited to be in this position.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder 2024 NBA Draft: Nikola Topic, Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell