Thunder prospect Nikola Topic makes long-awaited G League debut after cancer fight
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Guard Nikola Topic played his first NBA G League game Monday night, less than a year after completing chemotherapy and two seasons after a major knee injury.
The 2024 No. 12 overall draft pick logged 16 minutes for the Oklahoma City Blue, finishing with seven points and seven assists in a 137-135 overtime win against the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Coach praises resilience
Before the parent club’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters in Los Angeles that the organization is “collectively thrilled” to see the 20-year-old Serbian back on the court.
“He hasn’t played a lot of basketball over the last two years,” Daigneault said, noting Topic’s year-long knee rehabilitation followed by three rounds of chemotherapy for testicular cancer. “For him to work himself back onto the court is just an unbelievable accomplishment.”
Road back to action
Oklahoma City selected Topic in June 2024, two months after he tore a knee ligament. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season. He returned for Summer League and preseason games in 2025 before receiving his cancer diagnosis.
Monday’s appearance marked Topic’s first official game action since then, adding another step in his bid to join the defending NBA champions later this season.
Source: ESPN
