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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic is receiving chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, the team announced Thursday.
Topic, a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, underwent a procedure earlier this month to reach a proper diagnosis. General manager Sam Presti confirmed to reporters Thursday that the results of that procedure came back and confirmed the 20-year-old Serbian basketball player had cancer.
Nikola Topic poses for photos with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 26, 2024. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
“He underwent a testicular procedure at the beginning of training camp. That procedure was necessary, and was performed at MD Anderson in Houston, to determine if Nikola was dealing with a case of testicular cancer. The procedure was necessary to perform a biopsy and the biopsy results have been returned and he is dealing with a case of testicular cancer,” Presti said.
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“You have a tremendous group of oncologists… and they are extremely positive about their outlook in dealing with the situation. It’s important to note that testicular cancer is the most curable form of cancer among men, but the treatment option for it at this time, recommended by the oncologist, is chemotherapy.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, testicular cancer is not a “common type of cancer,” but it is highly treatable. It usually affects men between the ages of 15 and 45, but can occur at any age.
Nikola Topic (44) of the Oklahoma City Thunder prepares to shoot against the Utah Jazz during the first half of their NBA Summer League game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 8, 2025. (Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
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“Topic did not want to make this information public until the treatment he recently received began,” Presti continued. “He’s been here, he’s training, he’s working through this whole process; he’s been able to do it. But as we all know, this is going to be a challenging treatment process.”
Presti did not offer any timeline for Topic’s recovery, but emphasized the team’s support for him.
“Our only expectations for him are to focus on this; this is his most important priority. He’ll get back to playing basketball when he can, but obviously we don’t put any kind of expectations on that.”
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (44) takes the court against the Charlotte Hornets in the first quarter at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Oct. 5, 2025. (Arthur Ellis/Image Images)
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Topic, the 12th overall pick in 2024, missed his entire rookie campaign while recovering from a torn ACL. He played in the summer league this year and started a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 10 points and 7 assists in Oklahoma City’s 135-114 victory.
