Nikola Topic Makes Emotional G League Debut After Cancer Battle: “I’m Just Really Proud of Him”
Oklahoma City got more than just a win at the Paycom Center on Sunday night - it got a moment that reminded everyone what sports are really about. Thunder prospect Nikola Topic made his long-awaited G League debut with the Oklahoma City Blue, months after undergoing a procedure following a testicular cancer diagnosis in October. And while the Blue edged out the Sioux Falls Skyforce in a 137-135 overtime thriller, the night belonged to Topic.
It was a return that carried weight far beyond the box score. Topic played 16 minutes, finishing with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a three-pointer, while dishing out seven assists and grabbing a rebound. But for head coach Daniel Dixon, Topic’s presence on the court meant so much more than stats.
“It was awesome,” Dixon said postgame, visibly moved by the moment. “There were probably a ton of emotions he was going through.
Having something taken away from you that you love from a young age cannot be easy. Just to see his resilience… and to know that the whole organization is behind him - we’re pushing him forward - I’m just really proud of him.”
You could feel the emotion in Dixon’s voice, and you could see it in Topic’s play. Every dribble, every pass, every smile - it all told the story of a young man who had fought his way back to the game he loves.
“Doing what he enjoys, doing what he loves to do, being out there with his teammates,” Dixon added. “There were so many positive things just from him stepping on the floor, stepping in between those lines, and competing. He did a really good job.”
Dixon praised Topic not just for his performance, but for the way he’s handled everything off the court - integrating himself into the team, staying engaged, and showing the kind of maturity and character that speaks volumes.
“One of the best things he’s done over the past few days is implement himself into the group,” Dixon said. “He’s been willing to do anything and everything, and I think that just speaks to who he is as a person.
I have a ton of respect for him. Just the way that he battled tonight.”
The Thunder are keeping their plans for Topic’s G League minutes and development timeline close to the vest, and that’s understandable. Right now, it’s about getting him back into rhythm and letting him rediscover his game at his own pace. And based on what we saw Sunday night, he’s already well on his way.
Topic’s return also had a ripple effect on the Blue roster. Rookie Brooks Barnhizer, who hit the game-winner in overtime and finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals, spoke about the energy Topic brought to the group.
“I've been around [Topic] a lot with summer league, being young guys, being [together] the last couple of weeks, ramping up with workouts and stuff,” Barnhizer said. “It's just so cool to see him - not only that he was able to go out there and be him, but the attitude towards it, joking around on the bench. You could tell he was very excited to play basketball.”
Barnhizer said that excitement was contagious.
“Everybody was having a lot of fun just playing with him. He gets a lot of people a lot of easy shots. He's just an overall great kid.”
It’s not often that a G League game turns into something more meaningful than a developmental checkpoint. But Sunday night in Oklahoma City was one of those nights.
Nikola Topic didn’t just return to basketball - he reminded everyone watching what perseverance looks like in real time. And for a team that’s building for the future, it’s hard to imagine a more inspiring piece of that foundation.