Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic has commenced chemotherapy following a confirmed diagnosis of testicular cancer. The announcement was made by general manager Sam Presti on Thursday, October 30, 2023. Presti emphasized that Topic, 20, preferred to keep his health status private until he began treatment.
“He’s been in here, he’s training, he’s working out through this entire process,” Presti stated during a press briefing. “As we all know, this would be a challenging treatment process to go through.”
The Thunder selected Topic with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season. Earlier this month, the team had indicated that Topic would miss four to six weeks due to a “testicular procedure,” but did not provide further details at that time. Presti later clarified that the procedure was necessary to confirm the diagnosis of testicular cancer and that a biopsy confirmed the condition.
As of now, Topic has not made his NBA debut, and there is no timeline for when he might return to the court. Presti mentioned that Topic’s medical team is “extremely positive” about his long-term outlook, adding, “Our only expectations for him are to focus on this. This is his most important priority. He’ll be back playing basketball when he’s able to, but we’re not putting any time length or expectations on that, obviously. He has our total support, encouragement, and love.”
The support extends beyond the Thunder organization. Presti noted that Topic is under the care of a “tremendous group of oncologists” at OU and MD Anderson, both recognized institutions in cancer treatment.
Topic’s situation is not unprecedented in the NBA. Former Denver Nuggets player Nene faced a similar diagnosis during the 2007-08 season, missing 76 days but eventually returning to play for 11 more years. Presti expressed confidence in Topic’s resilience, stating, “He is a really remarkable, remarkable guy. Extraordinarily mature, composed, resilient. He has all the tools that you could ask for somebody to take on and conquer the situation.”
Reflecting on his challenges, Topic previously shared insights about his recovery from a torn ACL and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. In a video posted by the Thunder in July, he remarked, “It was hard, you know? I didn’t play a basketball game for a very long time, and that was really hard. But, as you go through that process, you learn something about yourself that you didn’t know you had.”
As he navigates this new challenge, the Thunder organization and Topic’s supporters remain hopeful for his recovery and eventual return to the game. The focus now is on his health and well-being, as he confronts a demanding treatment journey with the backing of his team and medical professionals.
