OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Nikola Topic made headlines as he addressed the NBA media for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. Topic's NBA debut was nothing short of inspiring, as he stepped onto the court in a 105-86 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks just before the All-Star break. The Paycom Center erupted with a standing ovation, marking a poignant moment for the young player.
Following another impressive performance in a win against the Brooklyn Nets, Topic opened up about his journey during his first postgame media session on Friday.
“Awesome moment. I'll remember that for the rest of my life - thanks to the fans,” Topic expressed, clearly moved by the support. “For sure, I'll remember that for the rest of my life.”
Returning to the court after a lengthy absence posed its challenges for Topic. He candidly shared how it felt to shake off the rust and adjust to the pace of the game.
“It was pretty weird at first. I'm kind of getting back the feel for the game again,” Topic explained.
“I was out for a while. It was so weird coming back.
I was catching myself doing stuff I never did before. It was pretty tough to adjust to that, but every game was better.
First game in the G League. Second game was better.
First game here was OK. Second one was better.
But I think it will only get better.”
In his limited 11 minutes on the floor, Topic showcased his potential, scoring nine points on 4-for-6 shooting, including a three-pointer, while adding three rebounds and two assists. His impact was particularly felt in the fourth quarter against the Nets, where he contributed five points and an assist in under two minutes, extending the Thunder's lead to 16.
All-Star teammate Chet Holmgren was quick to applaud Topic's courage and resilience. Holmgren, who also faced his own setback with an injury that sidelined him for an entire season, acknowledged the unique challenges Topic faced with his cancer diagnosis.
Nikola Topić receives a standing ovation as he checks into the first NBA game of his career.
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) February 13, 2026
He also picks up an assist for a nice pass to Jaylin Williams for the easy bucket. Topić off to a great start pic.twitter.com/oJqrXDkPKT
“Anybody battling cancer is fighting for their life. I could never begin to understand what that’s like.
It just speaks to the strength of [Topić], and who he is as a person,” Holmgren reflected. “It would have been very justified for him to weigh everybody around him down and sulk, and be mad at the world because the kid he is, he doesn’t deserve that.
We're all just so happy that he was able to battle through that, get back to hooping.
“You see a lot bigger smile on his face when he's able to be out there with his shoes on. I thought he had a really good game tonight.
He could have made 100 shots or missed 100 shots tonight; it was an amazing game for him. Being able to get out there, get some reps under his belt, and now, he can learn from them, we can learn from him, too.”
As Topic gears up for his third NBA game against the Cavs at the Paycom Center on Sunday, fans and teammates alike are eager to see his continued growth and resilience on full display.
Nikola Topić thanks Thunder fans for standing ovation in NBA debut:
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) February 21, 2026
“I’ll remember that for the rest of my life” pic.twitter.com/N8xqQELZoc