OKLAHOMA CITY -- Nikola Topic made his NBA debut Thursday night for the Thunder and scored his first points after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.
The Serbian guard was the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He missed all of last season with a knee injury he suffered before the draft and had not played this season after receiving a cancer diagnosis during the preseason. He had a procedure in October, then underwent chemotherapy and worked his way back into shape.
He entered Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks late in the first quarter and received a loud ovation. He scored his only points on a jumper from near the free throw line early in the second quarter. He finished with two points, one rebound and one assist in a 110-93 loss.
"Just thrilled for him," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
"He's obviously been through a ton of adversity in his life in the last couple years. He's a young guy that all he wants to do is play basketball and that's been taken from him a couple of different times, and so for him to work himself to this point, get himself on the floor is a great accomplishment. ... Certainly a really good feel-good night for his family, for him and for our team despite the fact that we didn't play our best game."
Daigneault emphasized that Topic is still in the beginning stages of returning to "full game shape."
"This was just like a unique pocket to get him in with our team with very little expectations from a performance standpoint," the coach said.
"We're just happy he got out there tonight and is on that track back. That's the most important thing."
Topic had seven points and seven assists in 16 minutes for the Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, in a 137-135 overtime victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Monday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
