OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder perspective Nikola Subject made his NBA G League debut after recovering from a serious knee injury and undergoing cancer treatment.
Topic had seven points and seven assists in 16 minutes for the Oklahoma City Blues in their 137-135 overtime win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Monday night.
In Los Angeles, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Topic before defending NBA champion Oklahoma City faced the Lakers.
“We are all collectively excited to have him come back and play basketball,” Daigneault said. “I know he missed it a lot, and it’s so good for him mentally to get his feet back under him.”
The G League game was another remarkable step forward for Topic, who has barely played basketball since the Thunder made him the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft.
Oklahoma City chose the Serbian goalkeeper even though he had torn a knee ligament two months earlier and the injury had kept him sidelined for his entire first season in North America.
Topic played for Oklahoma City in last year’s summer championship games and appeared again during the Thunder’s preseason, but was later diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent chemotherapy before returning to fitness.
“A great success,” said Daigneault. “I can’t say enough about him as a guy, his mental toughness, his maturity, his resilience. … He hasn’t played much basketball in the last couple of years, and he comes out of a year-long rehab and immediately has a surprising diagnosis and goes through three rounds of chemotherapy. So for him to get back on the court is just an incredible accomplishment, and we’re incredibly happy for him.”
