OKC head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized that chemotherapy has taken a significant physical toll on Nikola Topic, saying he is still far from full strength and that the focus is simply on his gradual return rather than performance.
Nikola Topic made his NBA debut on Thursday night for the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring his first career points after battling testicular cancer.
The 20-year-old Serbian guard entered the game against the Milwaukee Bucks late in the first quarter to a loud ovation from the crowd. He finished with two points, one rebound, and one assist in a 110-93 loss.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault couldn't hide his happiness for Topic.
"Yeah, just thrilled for him. He's obviously been through a ton of adversity in his life in the last couple of years," Daigneault said. "He's a young guy who all he wants to do is play basketball, and that's been taken from him a couple of different times. So for him to work himself to this point, get himself on the floor, is a great accomplishment. I love watching the team respond to him both during and after the game.
"And I can't help but think of his family as well," the coach added. "You know, I have young kids at home, and it's pretty hard to even think about what his family's gone through as well. It hasn't just been him. He's got a wonderful family that loves him very much, that was through this with him the entire time.
"So, I'm thrilled for them and certainly a really good feel-good night for his family, for him, and for our team despite the fact that we didn't play our best game."
Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has faced multiple setbacks early in his career.
He missed all of last season due to a knee injury suffered before the draft and sat out this season after being diagnosed with cancer during the preseason.
Following a procedure in October and chemotherapy treatment, he gradually worked his way back into playing shape.
"He's in the infant stages of returning to full game shape. What chemotherapy does to your body is really remarkable – it's crazy what it does to you physically," Daigneault noted. "The road back from that is different for everybody, and it's highly challenging.
"If his peak athleticism is a 10 out of 10, he's not even close to that right now in terms of conditioning, athleticism, strength, all the things that does to your body," he added. "It would be unfair to evaluate him in this context. We're just happy he got out there tonight and is on track to be back [fully]. That's the most important thing.
"But I mean the stuff he does – I mean, you saw the stuff coming out of the draft – obviously, elite guard, elite passer, great IQ, mature beyond his years as a basketball player. But a long road ahead of him in terms of being fully formed again."
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