Thunder Guard Diagnosed with Testicular Cancer
Nikola Topic, a guard for the Thunder, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will be out for a significant time.
Oklahoma City’s general manager, Sam Presti, revealed that the 20-year-old, who is in his second year, had a biopsy as part of his treatment. Earlier this month, the team announced that Topic had undergone surgery related to this diagnosis.
“The surgery was essential to find out if Nikola had a case of testicular cancer. It took place at MD Anderson in Houston. The procedure was done to carry out a biopsy, and the results confirmed that he is indeed dealing with cancer,” Presti explained.
Topic was selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2024 NBA Draft, ahead of players like Jared McCain, Kelel Ware, and Dalton Knecht.
A report stated that Topic is receiving support from the medical staff and that, fortunately, his situation doesn’t seem life-threatening.
“He has a strong team of oncologists at both OU and MD Anderson. They are optimistic about his chances to manage this situation,” Presti noted further. It’s worth mentioning that while testicular cancer is among the most treatable cancers in men, oncologists have recommended chemotherapy for his current treatment.
Despite being in the league for over a year, Topic has yet to step onto the NBA court, although he performed well in the summer league.
After the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while competing in the Adriatic League finals with Crvena Zvezda.
During the summer league, he played six games, averaging 10.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds.
The Thunder have a strong lineup and were champions last season, clinching the title against the Indiana Pacers. Thus, there’s no urgency for Topic’s return from injury.
It remains uncertain when Topic will be able to resume playing basketball.
“He’ll return to basketball when he’s ready, but we don’t have specific expectations,” Presti added.
Once again, Oklahoma City is among the top teams anticipated to win the NBA Finals, starting the season with an impressive 5-0 record.
