Thunder's Topic makes G League debut after knee injury, cancer treatment

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder prospect Nikola Topic made his NBA G League debut after recovering from a major knee injury and undergoing cancer treatment.

Topic had seven points and seven assists in 16 minutes for the Oklahoma City Blue in their 137-135 overtime victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Monday night.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Topic in Los Angeles before defending NBA champion Oklahoma City faced the Lakers.

"We're all just collectively thrilled that he's back playing basketball," Daigneault said. "I know he's missed it a great deal, and this is just so good for him mentally to get his feet back underneath him."

The G League game was another remarkable step forward for Topic, who has barely played basketball since the Thunder made him the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Oklahoma City chose the Serbian guard even though he had torn a ligament in his knee two months earlier, and the injury sidelined him for his entire first season in North America.

Topic played for Oklahoma City in summer league games last year and appeared again in the Thunder's preseason, but was subsequently diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent chemotherapy before working his way back into playing shape again.

"Great accomplishment," Daigneault said. "Just can't say enough about him as a guy, his mental toughness, maturity, resilience. ... He hasn't played a lot of basketball over the last two years, and he comes off a one-year rehab and immediately has a surprising diagnosis and goes through chemotherapy, three rounds of it. So for him to work himself back onto the court is just an unbelievable accomplishment, and we’re incredibly happy for him."