Nikolić was a member of the Yugoslavian national basketball team from 1957 to 1964. He played at one FIBA World Cup (1963 in Brazil), and at four EuroBaskets (1957 in Bulgaria, 1959 in Turkey, 1961 in Yugoslavia, and 1963 in Poland). He also played at two Summer Olympics (1960 in Rome, and 1964 in Tokyo). Nikolić won a silver medal at the 1963 FIBA World Championship, as well as a silver medal (1961) and one bronze (1963) at the EuroBasket. He also won a gold medal at the 1959 Mediterranean Games, in Lebanon.