The Milwaukee Bucks’ matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday will show that the road team—the Bucks in this case—routed the home team, the Thunder, 110-93, in the two teams’ final game before the NBA All-Star break. But the story of this game was Nikola Topic, who made a most memorable NBA debut after a bout with cancer.
A Long Journey for Nikola Topic
Nikola Topic was picked 12th overall by OKC in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, he missed all of the 2024-25 NBA season due to a knee injury he suffered just prior to getting drafted. Then, with his sights set on finally making his NBA debut, Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the preseason, further pushing back the official start of his career.
The 6-foot-6 Serbian underwent a medical procedure in October before starting chemotherapy for his cancer. Even as Topic battled cancer, he still worked his way into shape and eventually got fit enough to ramp up his return-to-basketball routine.
All that hard work and tenacity paid off on Friday, with Nikola Topic entering his first-ever NBA game in the first quarter to thunderous applause and an extended standing ovation from the Thunder crowd. He then nailed a jumper in the second quarter for his first points in the world’s preeminent basketball league.
Bucks Spoil Nikola Topic’s Inspiring Debut
As for the game itself, not even Topic’s inspiring return to basketball could inspire the Thunder, who fell behind, 67-55, in the first half and couldn’t quite muster an extended run to turn the game around. In the end, the Bucks won every quarter en route to a 110-93 victory.
Ousmane Dieng was Milwaukee’s unlikely star on Friday, going off for a season-high 19 points on top of 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. AJ Green added 17, while Bobby Portis, Cam Thomas, and Pete Nance all came off the bench to score in double digits.
Isaiah Joe led the Thunder with 17, while Chet Holmgren had 16.
