Nikola Topić Undergoes Testicular Procedure, Faces Another 4-6 Week Absence from Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić will miss four to six weeks after undergoing a testicular procedure on Monday, further delaying his NBA debut. Topić, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, missed his entire rookie campaign last season due to a torn left ACL, an injury sustained just weeks before the draft. Despite the ACL injury, which dropped him from a projected top-five pick, the Thunder drafted him knowing he would miss the 2024-25 season. Before his ACL tear, Topić averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 assists in the Adriatic League during the 2023-24 campaign, leading Crvena zvezda to a championship, and earned MVP honors at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship. He recently played in the Thunder’s preseason win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, recording 10 points and seven assists in 31 minutes. This new procedure means he will miss the start of the regular season, which begins October 21 for the reigning champion Thunder. He could return in early November if his recovery is on the shorter end of the four-to-six-week timeline. Further specifics of the injury are currently unknown.