During Thursday’s shootout, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced that rookie guard Nikola Topic had been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
It was announced a few weeks ago that Topic had undergone testicular surgery early in training camp, although no further details were released aside from his possible return timeframe, which was initially listed as four to six weeks. Presti said the procedure, performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, was necessary to determine whether Topic had testicular cancer and the biopsy confirmed that was the case.
“He has a wonderful group of oncologists at OU and MD Anderson, and they are extremely positive about his outlook,” Presti said.
Presti noted that testicular cancer is the most cured form of cancer in men and that Topic’s recommended treatment in the future will be chemotherapy.
“(The subject) did not want to make this information public until he began the actual treatments, which he did,” Presti said. “He’s been here, he’s training, he’s training through this process. As we all know, it would be a difficult treatment process to go through.”
There is currently no timetable for Topic’s return, as the team prioritizes his health. Presti said there are no expectations of a return to basketball at this time.
“(Topic) is a truly remarkable, remarkable guy,” Presti said. “I think everyone knows that, that’s what surrounds him. Extraordinarily mature, composed, resilient. He has all the tools you could ask for from someone to face and overcome the situation.”
Topic was drafted 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and missed his freshman season due to a knee injury suffered before the draft. He played for the Thunder in Summer League and once on the preseason roster before undergoing his procedure.
