Nikola Topić is back on the court - and that’s a sight Thunder fans have been waiting to see.
The 20-year-old rookie guard, who’s been sidelined since draft night with a string of brutal setbacks, was seen going through pregame warmups with the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of their 122-101 win over the Clippers on Thursday. It marked the first time he’s been spotted working out publicly since his testicular cancer diagnosis nearly two months ago.
While there’s still no official timetable for his return to game action, seeing Topić suited up and moving through drills is an encouraging step forward - not just for his basketball future, but for his health and well-being.
Topić’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. Drafted 12th overall in 2024, the Serbian guard was widely viewed as one of the most polished playmakers in his class.
But just a month before the draft, he tore his ACL - a devastating blow that immediately put his rookie season in jeopardy. Then, in early October, he underwent a procedure that led to a diagnosis of testicular cancer, further delaying his path to the NBA floor.
Through it all, the Thunder have made it clear they’re not rushing anything. General manager Sam Presti emphasized that the organization wouldn’t attach any timelines or expectations to Topić’s recovery, instead focusing on his long-term health and development.
That long view makes sense. Oklahoma City is playing the long game with a young core that’s already ahead of schedule, and Topić - with his court vision, size, and feel for the game - is expected to be a key piece of that puzzle once he’s fully ready.
Thursday’s pregame appearance doesn’t change the fact that his official NBA debut is still on hold. But it does offer a glimpse of what’s hopefully to come. Topić looked engaged, active, and comfortable in warmups - all strong signs that he’s making progress.
For now, the Thunder will continue to monitor his recovery and let the process play out. But make no mistake: seeing Nikola Topić back on the floor, even in a limited capacity, is a big win - for him, for the team, and for fans eager to see what he can bring once he’s finally cleared for action. If all goes well, 2026 could be the year the basketball world finally gets to see why OKC was so high on him in the first place.