Mark Daigneault, OKC players break silence on Nikola Topic’s cancer diagnosis originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder recently dropped some stunning news with regards to the condition of one of their key young talents.
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On Thursday, general manager Sam Presti revealed to reporters that Nikola Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer, in which the OKC guard already started his chemotherapy session and will be inactive on an indefinite basis.
Topic had testicular surgery earlier this month and after his cancer was discovered, he politely asked the Thunder organization not to disclose his health status until he begins his treatment.
Although Presti clarified that doctors are “extremely positive” about Topic’s long-term recovery, it’s still a huge hurdle for the Serbian sensation both on and off the court. Topic is yet to make his NBA debut after he was chosen for the No. 12 pick of last year’s draft, as he missed the whole 2024-25 season due to a torn ACL.
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Mark Daigneault, OKC players react to Nikola Topic’s testicular cancer diagnosis
With the entire group behind, Mark Daigneault has all the confidence that Topic will be able to get through these challenging times.
Before his team’s 127-108 win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Thunder head coach offered positive words for the 20-year-old and the support system that Oklahoma City has.
“He’s doing great given the circumstances, which is unsurprising,” Daigneault said. “ Our locker, there’s no locker room that I believe is more equipped to encourage and support someone through something like this than our locker room.
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“We’ve got his back. He knows that. He’s around. He’s been around. He’ll continue to be around, and everybody will do the best they can. But, we’re very confident in the person and the prognosis, and the environment that we have around him as we go through this with him.”
On behalf of the other Oklahoma City players, both Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe also gave their strong commitment to help Topic in his recovery.
“The main thing is being supportive,” the veteran big man said in postgame. “He’s been with us in the last two years and he’s been a great part of our team even when he was hurt, it was good seeing him around. For us as a team, it’s just rallying behind him. That’s what makes our team special.”
Joe added: “Just being there for him, checking in on him. He’s human. He’s going through something, but as long as we can have his back and get him through it.
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“We’ll just help warm his heart through it all and let him know that he’s not in this thing alone.”