Nikola Topic made his long-awaited NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday after a battle with cancer.
The point guard, 20, was diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after playing in the team’s first preseason game of the 2025-26 season.
Just four months after his diagnosis, Topic, who underwent chemotherapy, made his return to the court in the Thunder’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
The Serbian returned to training last month, shortly after he was seen taking part in a pre-game warm-up with the Thunder team following the completion of his chemotherapy in December.
Not only did Thursday night mark Topic’s return to basketball but it also signified his first taste of NBA action.
The matchup against the Bucks was Topic’s first official regular-season game in the NBA for the Thunder, who drafted him in the first round of the 2024 draft.
Nikola Topic made his long-awaited NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday
The point guard, 20, was diagnosed with testicular cancer just before the start of the season
Topic missed the entirety of the 2024-2025 season – which would have been his rookie campaign – with an ACL injury.
Despite not playing a game, he won the NBA Championship with the Thunder that year, becoming the third-youngest NBA player ever to win a title.
After being sidelined for a large chunk of the start to the season, Topic made his first appearance in a G-League game on Monday, which paved the way for his NBA debut.
With 1:55 left in the first quarter of the game against the Bucks, the he entered to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
On his first play, he found Jaylin Williams, who converted to hand Topic his firs-ever NBA assist. Later into the game, he clinched his first basket with a mid-range, pull-up jumper with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
News of Topic’s cancer diagnosis was broken by Thunder General Manager Sam Presti back in October.
‘He had a testicular procedure at the very beginning of training camp. That procedure was necessary… to determine if Nikola was dealing with a case of testicular cancer,’ the GM said.
‘The results of the biopsy have been returned and he is dealing with a case of testicular cancer. He has a tremendous group of oncologists… and they are extremely positive about his outlook in dealing with the situation.’
The player talks to Thunder teammate Jared McCain during the game against the Bucks
Presti added: ‘Tope didn’t want to make this information public until he had begun the actual treatments, which he has recently. He’s been in here, he’s training, he’s working out – through this entire process he’s been able to do that.
‘But as we all know, this will be a challenging treatment process to go through but the team of physicians he has around him are extremely positive about his long-term outlook.’
The GM said at the time that the Thunder’s ‘only expectation’ of Topic was to focus on his cancer battle.
‘This is his most important priority – he’ll be back playing basketball when he’s able to but we’re not putting any type of expectations on that, obviously,’ Presti explained.
‘He has our total support, encouragement and love. Guys on the team have been amazing. Tope is a really remarkable guy… extraordinarily mature and composed.
‘He has all the tools that you could ask for, for somebody to take on and conquer this situation.’
