OKLAHOMA CITY — For the first time since the announcement of Nikola’s testicular cancer diagnosis Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault addressed the goalkeeper’s health during his press briefing. Before facing the Washington Wizards, Daigneault took the time to discuss the kind of person Topic is.
Daigneault believes Topic could not be in a better environment facing such a health crisis.
“He’s doing very well given the circumstances, which isn’t surprising. Sam mentioned it today, but there’s no one at 20 years old more equipped with the maturity and the discipline and the toughness to handle a situation like this. Our locker, there’s no locker room that I believe is more equipped to encourage and support someone in something like this than our locker room.
“We support him. He knows it. He’s there. He’s been there. He’ll continue to be there and everyone will do their best. But we have a lot of confidence in the person, in his prognosis and in the environment that we have around him as we go through this with him.”
Mark Daigneault on Nikola Topić’s testicular cancer diagnosis: “He is doing very well considering the circumstances, which is not surprising.
Sam mentioned it today, but no one is more equipped than him with the maturity, discipline and tenacity to handle a situation like this. pic.twitter.com/M4u12qVfjC
– Josué Pavon (@Joe_Sway) October 30, 2025
Subject started chemotherapy.
Thunder General Manager Sam Presti Announces Nikola Cancer Diagnosis Topic
Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced Nikola Topic’s testicular cancer diagnosis before Thursday’s game against the Wizards. After playing a preparatory match, Subject was excluded due to testicular procedure along with his cancer diagnosis.
Presti briefed reporters on the latest surrounding story following the Thunder’s morning shootout.
“The procedure was necessary to do a biopsy, and the results of the biopsy were determined, and he is facing a case of testicular cancer,” Presti said. “He has a wonderful group of oncologists at OU and MD Anderson, and they are extremely positive about his outlook. It’s important to note that testicular cancer is the most cured form of cancer in men.
“But the treatment option for him currently, recommended by oncologists, is chemotherapy. (Subject) didn’t want to make that information public until he started the actual treatment, which he recently did.”
Mark Daigneault and the Thunder will look to extend their perfect start to 6-0 when they face the Wizards on Thursday.
