Nikola Topic Returns to the Court After Testicular Cancer: “A Huge Milestone”
Nikola Topic plays his first NBA game after months of hardship: his debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder marks the first true milestone in a journey of rebirth
The night in Oklahoma City carried special meaning, far beyond the final score. Nikola Topic finally stepped onto an NBA floor, completing a journey that over the past several months has been anything but simple. His debut with the Thunder came against the Milwaukee Bucks, capping a long road that began well before the regular season.
Selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Serbian point guard had yet to appear in an official professional game. First came a knee injury, then a diagnosis that completely shifted priorities: testicular cancer, discovered during training camp. Surgery followed in October, then chemotherapy and a gradual return to physical condition.
On Thursday night, that journey reached its first major milestone.
A Standing Ovation and His First NBA Points
Topic entered the game late in the first quarter, and the Paycom Center welcomed him with a spontaneous, heartfelt ovation. In the second quarter came his first NBA basket: a mid-range jumper just inside the free-throw line. He finished with 2 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 110-93 loss.
Marginal numbers, but entirely secondary given the context.
Daigneault: “A Night That Means More Than the Result”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the human significance of the evening, shifting the focus away from the box score:
It was simply beautiful to see him out there. He’s faced so many challenges over the past two years. All he wanted was to play basketball, and more than once that was taken away from him. To get to this point is a huge milestone.
Mark Daigneault
The Thunder coach also made clear that the debut should not be viewed through a performance lens:
We’re still at the beginning of his return to game shape. This was just a unique window to integrate him into the group, without particular expectations. The important thing is that he’s back on the court and now on that path.
Mark Daigneault
The G League Stop as the Final Step
Before his NBA call-up, Topic had broken the ice with the Oklahoma City Blue. On Monday night in the G League, he posted 7 points and 7 assists in 16 minutes in an overtime win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. A test more about rhythm than numbers, consistent with Oklahoma City’s extremely cautious approach.
A Debut That Goes Beyond Basketball
The first step has been taken. A full return to competitive form will require time, but Nikola Topic’s NBA debut tells a story that goes beyond rotations and minutes. It’s the story of a talent who had the game taken away twice – and who now finally has the chance to take it back.