After 137 games of waiting, Nikola Topić is finally making his NBA debut
End of a long obstacle course. How else to say it? Nikola Topic he arrived at the Thunder in 2024 and begins his NBA career in February 2026.… The playmaker was initially slowed by a knee ligament injury that sidelined him for the entire 2024/25 season.
Then, even scarier, he contracted testicular cancer, which he managed to beat. By missing the first 55 matches in the financial year 2025/26, the Serbian missed the first 137 matches of his career!
It’s finally over, with the beginnings at the end of the tunnel against Bucksa few days after going through the G-League. He entered at the end of the first quarter, to the applause of the Pejkom Center and his teammates.
“He is a young man who wants only one thing, and that is to play basketball, and who was deprived of it on several occasions. So returning to the court is a real success for him.”, referee Mark Daigneault.
In 13 minutes and for his first NBA game, Nikola Topić scored 2 points, grabbed a rebound and assisted. The main thing was obviously somewhere else than in the numbers.
“I loved the team’s reaction to him during and after the match, and I can’t help but think of his family as well.”continued the Thunder coach at the press conference. “I have young children myself and it’s very hard for me to imagine what his family has been through. He was not alone. He has a wonderful family who love him very much and have supported him throughout this ordeal.”
2026-02-13 08:14:00
