By JAMES COHEN, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 18:41 EST, 9 January 2026 | Updated: 18:42 EST, 9 January 2026
NBA star Nikola Topic has returned to training with the Oklahoma City Thunder after completing chemotherapy following a testicular cancer diagnosis last year.
Back in October, it was revealed that the former first-round pick had been diagnosed with the disease, just months after the Thunder won the NBA championship.
Since then, Topic has reportedly been working hard to get back on the court and, in December, was seen taking part in a pre-game warm-up with the Thunder team.
Earlier this week, he was reportedly spotted again, this time involved in a defensive workout alongside Thunder rookies Brooks Barnhizer and Chris Youngblood.
Now, it's been confirmed that his chemotherapy has been completed and there are hopes that he could return to NBA action before the end of the season.
Topic's agent, Misko Raznatovic, recently said: 'The chemotherapy has been successfully completed, and he is now returning to the training process, although he remained active even during the therapy.
Nikola Topic has returned to training with the Thunder after completing chemotherapy
Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer back in October
'It's difficult to specify a timeframe, but I sincerely hope that this year he will get minutes not only in the G League but also on NBA courts, if everything goes as it currently appears.'
'If he stays healthy, and I believe he will, everything that has happened in the past two years will only strengthen his character.
'If he has managed to overcome these two obstacles, nothing will be difficult or unattainable for him in the future,' Raznatovic added.
Topic is yet to have his first taste of NBA basketball having missed the entirety of the 2024-25 season with an ACL injury.
Despite not playing a game, he won the NBA Championship with the Thunder that year, becoming the third-youngest NBA player ever to win a title.
News of Topic's cancer diagnosis was broken by Thunder General Manager Sam Presti back in October.
'He had a testicular procedure at the very beginning of training camp. That procedure was necessary... to determine if Nikola was dealing with a case of testicular cancer,' the GM said.
'The results of the biopsy have been returned and he is dealing with a case of testicular cancer. He has a tremendous group of oncologists... and they are extremely positive about his outlook in dealing with the situation.'
Presti added: 'Tope didn't want to make this information public until he had begun the actual treatments, which he has recently. He's been in here, he's training, he's working out - through this entire process he's been able to do that.
Despite not playing a game, he won the NBA Championship with the Thunder last year
Topic is yet to have his first taste of NBA basketball having missed the entirety of the 2024-25
'But as we all know, this will be a challenging treatment process to go through but the team of physicians he has around him are extremely positive about his long-term outlook.'
The GM said that the Thunder's 'only expectation' of Topic - a first-round draft pick in 2024 - is to focus on his cancer battle.
'This is his most important priority - he'll be back playing basketball when he's able to but we're not putting any type of expectations on that, obviously,' Presti explained.
'He has our total support, encouragement and love. Guys on the team have been amazing. Tope is a really remarkable guy... extraordinarily mature and composed.
'He has all the tools that you could ask for, for somebody to take on and conquer this situation.'