Nikola Topić’s Long-Awaited NBA Debut Is More Than Just a Comeback-It’s a Triumph
There are debuts, and then there are moments that transcend the box score. Thursday night in Oklahoma City, Nikola Topić finally stepped onto an NBA court-not just as a rookie, but as a survivor. The 20-year-old Serbian guard made his long-awaited debut for the Thunder against the Milwaukee Bucks, and while the stat line won’t jump off the page, the story behind it absolutely does.
Nearly two years after being drafted 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topić played his first official NBA minutes, checking into the game with 1:55 left in the first quarter to a loud and emotional standing ovation from the Paycom Center crowd. It was a moment that had been building for months-really, years.
At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Topić was drafted for his size, court vision, and playmaking instincts. But Thunder fans have barely had a chance to see any of that.
A torn ACL sidelined him for his entire rookie season, and just when it looked like he was ready to turn the corner-after some promising showings in Summer League and preseason-he was dealt another blow. In October, Topić announced he’d be undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
That kind of news changes everything. Basketball takes a back seat.
The focus shifts to health, family, and fighting a very different kind of battle. And yet, just four months later, here he was, back on the court, wearing Thunder blue, putting up his first official NBA points.
Topić played 12 minutes in the Thunder’s 110-93 loss to the Bucks, finishing 1-for-3 from the field with a rebound and an assist. Modest numbers, sure-but this night wasn’t about stats.
It was about resilience. It was about a young man who’s been through more in 18 months than most veterans do in a decade, finally getting a chance to do what he loves in front of a home crowd that clearly loves him back.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault summed it up best earlier this week: “I know he’s missed it a great deal, and this is just so good for him mentally to get his feet back underneath him.” And you could see that.
Even in limited minutes, Topić looked comfortable. Confident.
Like a player who’s ready to contribute-not just someday, but soon.
The Thunder have been one of the league’s most intriguing young teams, loaded with talent and potential. Adding Topić to that mix, even in a limited role to start, gives them another high-IQ guard who can handle the ball, create for others, and bring a toughness that’s been forged far beyond the hardwood.
For now, it’s one game. One night.
But it’s a big one. Nikola Topić is officially an NBA player.
And after everything he’s been through, that’s more than enough reason to cheer.