Nicola Topic Diagnosed with Testicular Cancer

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nicola Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy, as announced by the team on Thursday.

Topic, who was a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, underwent surgery earlier this month to receive a proper diagnosis. General Manager Sam Presti confirmed that the results indicated the 20-year-old Serbian player has cancer.

“He had a testicular procedure at the beginning of training camp, which was essential for determining whether he had cancer,” Presti explained. “The procedure, conducted at MD Anderson in Houston, allowed for a biopsy, and the results confirmed the diagnosis.”

“Nicola has a supportive team of oncologists who are optimistic about his recovery,” Presti added. “It’s important to remember that testicular cancer is among the most treatable forms of cancer in men. Presently, however, his oncologists have recommended chemotherapy as the best course of action.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, while testicular cancer isn’t very common, it’s highly treatable and typically affects men aged 15 to 45, but can occur at any age.

Continuing, Presti remarked, “Mr. Topic preferred to keep this information private until he had started his treatment. He’s been diligently training throughout this period, but as we know, the therapeutic journey ahead will be a challenging one.”

He didn’t provide a specific timeline for Topic’s recovery, emphasizing the team’s unwavering support. “We want him to focus solely on this situation. His health is the top priority. Whenever he is ready to return to basketball, that will be up to him. We don’t have set expectations for that,” Presti mentioned.

Topic, selected as the 12th overall pick in 2024, had already missed his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL. This summer, he played in the league and even started a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 10 points and making seven assists in a 135-114 victory for Oklahoma City.