Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and has begun chemotherapy treatment, general manager Sam Presti confirmed Thursday through team reporter Ryan Stiles.
The announcement comes just two weeks after the 20-year-old underwent a testicular procedure that was initially expected to sideline him for four to six weeks. Presti said that doctors discovered the cancer during post-surgery evaluations, prompting an immediate treatment plan.
Topić, who was selected 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, had been preparing for his long-awaited NBA debut after missing the entire 2024–25 season recovering from a torn ACL. His comeback was one of the Thunder’s most anticipated storylines entering the new campaign.
Before the diagnosis, Topić had shown encouraging signs of progress, particularly during the 2025 Summer League, where he averaged 11.0 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds across three games.
At Oklahoma City’s preseason media day, the Serbian guard spoke enthusiastically about joining the defending champions after a year of rehab. “Just to be able to play with these guys, who are great, and just to be a part of the team now, it feels amazing,” Topić said at the time.
The diagnosis marks another setback in what has already been a challenging start to Topić’s professional career. Still, his resilience during his ACL recovery and strong work ethic have left those around him confident in his ability to overcome this new obstacle.
