Oklahoma City Thunder Goalkeeper Nikola Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
Sam Presti, the team’s general manager, announced the diagnosis Thursday.
Subject underwent testicular surgery earlier this month. The Thunder said at the time he would be out for at least four weeks.
Presti said doctors were “extremely positive” about the long-term outlook.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Topic was in relatively good spirits. He said Topic worked throughout the process and would continue to be a part of the team.
“He is doing very well given the circumstances, which is not surprising,” Daigneault said. “Sam mentioned it today, but there is no one at 20 more equipped than him with the maturity, discipline and tenacity to handle a situation like this.”
Topic was expected to be an important addition to a team that otherwise changed very little after winning the NBA title last season. A first-round pick in 2024, he missed the entire 2024-25 season while recovering from a torn ACL. He played in Summer League this year and started a preseason game against Charlotte, posting 10 points and seven assists in Oklahoma City’s 135-114 victory.
Daigneault said the players are well equipped to offer support.
“The instincts of our players, the authenticity of our players and the character of our players — that’s what they rely on in all unusual situations, even if it’s not familiar to some of them,” Daigneault said. “And that’s why I have so much confidence in the environment around Nikola as he goes through this, because our locker room is incredible in every situation, and they’ll get through it just like he’ll get through it.”
