Nikola Topic details chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer
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Sitting down in front of the group of reports after the Oklahoma City Thunder's 105-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets, Nikola Topic felt a sense of thankfulness for a task most NBA players view as a chore.
It was the first time Topic has publicly talked since he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in Oct. 2025. After two obstacle-filled years, the 20-year-old has finally made his NBA debut almost two years after he was taken with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft.
After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, Topic suited up for the 2025 Summer League and this year's preseason opener before he underwent emergency testicular surgery to determine if he had cancer. That turned out to be the case.
Thunder GM Sam Presti announced Topic's diagnosis. Despite the scariness of the situation, he emphasized that his medical team was fully confident he'd make a full recovery and that testicular cancer is one of the most curable forms among males.
Three rounds of chemotherapy later, Topic completed his cancer treatment in Jan. 2026. Over the next six weeks, he'd be spotted in pregame warmups and at the OKC's practice facility. He was eventually assigned to the G League's OKC Blue to play a home back-to-back in Feb. 2026.
Topic suited up for the first time in OKC's 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks right before the 2026 NBA All-Star break arrived. It was one of the more epic moments in the NBA this season. Sports naturally invite tribalism, but his return was something that was universally cheered for.
I think most folks can relate to how scary cancer can be. Whether it's through their own personal experience or someone close to them. For Topic to go from being diagnosed to making his NBA debut within a four-month window is straight-up superhero stuff that inspires everybody.
He also ain't half-bad as an NBA player. In just his second game, Topic flexed why the Thunder took him in the lottery. He finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in OKC's 105-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He helped close things out with a loud fourth quarter.
Remains to be seen how Topic's role fluctuates the rest of the way. The Thunder are truly taking things a day at a time. But the 20-year-old showed enough flashes as a downhill scorer and playmaker to raise eyebrows in an impressive way.
Talking to the media, Topic detailed his cancer treatment. He explained his firsthand experience undergoing chemotherapy. It's one of the more common ways to battle cancer cells from growing within the body.
"It was kinda a weird situation. You kinda learn a lot about your body. Everybody reacts to different things," Topic said. "It was pretty good. Pretty encouraging to see. I'm pretty grateful that I'm right now speaking to you guys."
Being around the Thunder helped Topic keep his morale up. Having his highly-anticipated NBA debut at the front of his mind helped him go through a grueling cancer treatment process that is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing.
"I was trying to stay as much prepared as I could. I was practicing as much as I could. I was just doing that because I felt way better," Topic said. "There's a lot of studies that show that if you practice during those treatments, it'll make you better. So it for sure made me better."
Awesome to see Topic finally on the NBA floor. Can't help but feel ecstatic for the 20-year-old. Think we can all agree that flipping the page of this latest chapter of his life is worth a celebration in itself.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Nikola Topic details chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer