Nikola Topić is taking a big step closer to joining OKC


Oklahoma. and home – Oklahoma City Thunder perspective Nikola Topić will do his thing G League debut for OKC Blue on Monday. Tema was diagnosed with testicular cancer this season. On the eve of his first NBA season after missing his rookie campaign with a season-ending left ACL injury, Topic’s cancer diagnosis was a scary mistake for the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Before being assigned to work with Blue, Topic rejoined his Thunder teammates in the pregame huddle. Then Thunder announced that Topic was heading towards Blue in front his debut against the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the Paicom Center.

Topic, who was projected to be a top lottery pick in the 2024 NBA draft, dropped to 12 for the Thunder after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. He spent all of last season rehabbing before making his summer league debut for the Las Vegas Thunder.

Topic averaged 10.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in six games for the Thunder in the summer league. He played in one preseason game before being diagnosed with cancer.

Nikola Topić makes his G League debut after being diagnosed with cancer

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault speaks with Nikola Topic during the opening press conference for the Thunder's 2024 draft picks at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City
SARA PHIPPS/The OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the middle of the thunder guardian Nikola Topić’s cancer diagnosis before his NBA debutwill get his first taste of G League basketball as a member of the Oklahoma City Blue. Before the diagnosis of testicular cancer, Topić was thinking about what sitting out his entire rookie season either way, and lessons learned from watching from the sidelines.

“It was hard, you know? I haven’t played basketball for a long time, and it was very hard,” said Topic. “But as you go through that process, you learn something about yourself that you didn’t know you had. You didn’t know how strong you are and how strong human bodies are. I will say that I took positives from it and learned from it.”

Topic’s commitment to the G League is an exciting development for the first-round pick.





2026-02-10 01:39:00

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