Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic has begun chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. The announcement was made by the team’s general manager, Sam Presti, on October 30, 2023. Presti shared that the player opted to keep his diagnosis private until he started treatment.
“He’s been in here, he’s training, he’s working out through this entire process,” Presti stated during a press conference. He acknowledged the challenges that come with such a treatment regimen but remained optimistic about Topic’s situation.
Topic, who is only 20 years old, was selected by the Thunder as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season. Earlier this month, the Thunder announced he would miss the start of the current season due to a “testicular procedure,” but did not provide further details at that time.
During the recent press conference, Presti revealed that the procedure was necessary to confirm the diagnosis of testicular cancer, which was subsequently validated by a biopsy. As of now, there is no specified timeline for Topic’s return to the court, but Presti noted that Topic’s doctors are “extremely positive” about his long-term prognosis.
“Our only expectations for him are to focus on this,” Presti added. “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.”
Topic is receiving care from a “tremendous group of oncologists” at both OU and MD Anderson, institutions well-regarded for their cancer treatment programs. Presti emphasized their positive outlook regarding Topic’s situation.
Testicular cancer is not unprecedented in professional basketball. Former Denver Nuggets player Nene was diagnosed during the 2007-08 season and missed 76 days before successfully returning to play for 11 more years.
Reflecting on his challenges, Topic expressed resilience and determination. He had previously discussed the emotional toll of missing his rookie season due to injury. “It was hard, you know? I didn’t play a basketball game for a very long time, and that was really hard,” he stated in a video shared by the Thunder. He emphasized the lessons learned during that time, stating, “As you go through that process, you learn something about yourself that you didn’t know you had.”
Despite the difficulties, Topic remains optimistic. “I feel good now,” he said, acknowledging the adjustments he had to make during his recovery. “It was a little bit rough at the beginning… but I’m getting used to it.”
As Topic embarks on this new journey of treatment, the basketball community continues to rally around him, offering support during this challenging time.
