Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic has begun chemotherapy after a biopsy confirmed his diagnosis of testicular cancer. The announcement was made by general manager Sam Presti on Thursday, October 30, 2023. Presti shared that Topic preferred to keep this information private until treatment had commenced, highlighting the young athlete’s desire to focus on his recovery.
“He’s been training and working out through this entire process,” Presti stated. “As we all know, this would be a challenging treatment process to go through.”
Topic, 20 years old, was selected by the Thunder as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, he faced a setback with a torn ACL that caused him to miss the entire 2024-25 season. Earlier this month, the team disclosed that Topic would be sidelined for four to six weeks following a “testicular procedure,” although specific details were not initially provided.
During the announcement, Presti clarified that the procedure was crucial for diagnosing the cancer, which was confirmed via biopsy. As of now, there is no set timeline for Topic’s return to the basketball court. Nevertheless, Presti conveyed optimism regarding Topic’s prognosis, stating that the player’s doctors are “extremely positive” about his long-term outlook.
“Our only expectations for him are to focus on this,” Presti emphasized. “This is his most important priority. He’ll be back playing basketball when he’s able to, but we’re not putting any time length or expectations on that, obviously. He has our total support, encouragement, and love.”
Presti also noted that Topic is receiving care from a “tremendous group of oncologists” at OU and MD Anderson, both of which are renowned medical institutions. This situation is not unique in the NBA; former player Nene faced a similar diagnosis during the 2007-08 season and managed to return to the game, playing for 11 additional years post-recovery.
Describing Topic as a “remarkable guy,” Presti praised his maturity, resilience, and composure in facing this health challenge. “He has all the tools that you could ask for somebody to take on and conquer the situation,” he said.
Reflecting on his past struggles, Topic previously shared his thoughts about missing his rookie season due to injury. In a video posted by the Thunder on YouTube in July, he stated, “It was hard, you know? I didn’t play a basketball game for a very long time, and that was really hard. But, as you go through that process, you learn something about yourself that you didn’t know you had.”
Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic. “I feel good now,” Topic said, acknowledging the difficulties he faced during his recovery from injury. “It was a little bit rough at the beginning… but I’m getting used to it.”
As Topic embarks on this new medical journey, the Thunder organization and its supporters rally behind him, demonstrating a united front in times of adversity. With a strong medical team and the backing of his teammates, Topic is poised to tackle this battle head-on, embodying the spirit of resilience that resonates in the world of sports.
