Thunder’s Nikola Topić Courageously Battles Cancer with Team’s Full Support
Oklahoma City Thunder’s young guard, Nikola Topić, is facing one of the toughest challenges of his life. The 20-year-old Serbian basketball player has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The news was confirmed by Thunder’s general manager, Sam Presti, who shared that the team and medical professionals are extremely optimistic about Topić’s recovery and long-term health.
Presti revealed that the diagnosis came after Topić underwent a surgical biopsy earlier this month at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The results confirmed the presence of cancer, and he immediately began a doctor-recommended chemotherapy plan. Topić, who initially preferred to keep the diagnosis private until his treatment began, has now received an outpouring of support from the Thunder organization and fans across the league.
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Despite this health setback, Topić has remained around the team, working out at their facilities and staying mentally engaged with the game he loves. Presti emphasized that basketball is not the priority right now — his full focus should be on recovery. “This is his most important priority,” Presti said. “He’ll be back when he’s ready, and we’re not putting any timeline on that. He has our complete support and love.”
Nikola Topić’s journey to the NBA was nothing short of inspiring. Before joining the Thunder, he was a rising star for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, where he showed tremendous promise as a playmaker. Oklahoma City selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, his rookie season was put on hold due to a torn ACL suffered during the Adriatic League playoffs, delaying his debut.
He finally stepped onto the court for the Thunder during the 2025 Summer League, where he averaged solid numbers — 10.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Fans were excited to see his potential during the preseason, especially after his impressive performance against the Charlotte Hornets, where he scored 10 points and handed out seven assists.
Just weeks before his diagnosis became public, Topić was seen supporting his teammates during the Thunder’s regular-season opener against the Houston Rockets, even receiving his championship ring from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — a moment of pride and hope amid personal adversity.
For now, the focus is firmly on his recovery. The Thunder organization has made it clear that his health comes first, and the basketball community is rallying behind him. Given his determination, resilience, and the optimism from his doctors, there’s every reason to believe Nikola Topić will come back stronger — both as an athlete and as a person.
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