Nikola Topic (Image Credits: Imagn)

Standing Ovation Greets Nikola Topic in Emotional Return to the Court After Cancer Battle

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated Feb 13, 2026 2:07 PM ET

After an impressive 136-109 victory against the Phoenix Suns, the Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center. While the game didn’t end in a win for the team, it was a monumental night for player Nikola Topic.

Drafted with the twelfth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic faced a challenging road to his debut. He missed the entire 2024-25 season due to surgery for a torn ACL, and just when it seemed he was on the verge of returning, he received another blow: a diagnosis of testicular cancer in October 2025.

After having four months of chemotherapy and treatment, Topic finally stepped back onto the court. His much-anticipated debut came during the game against the Bucks, where the home crowd made the occasion unforgettable.

Huge ovation for Nikola Topic as he makes his NBA debut pic.twitter.com/yaEX8dkdK8
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) February 13, 2026

As he entered the court, the audience erupted in a standing ovation, celebrating his resilience and courage through his battle with cancer, giving him the support he needed to shine.

SGA, Jalen Williams Hyped Over Nikola Topic’s First NBA Point

The atmosphere was electric as the crowd rallied behind Topic during his amazing debut after battling cancer. His teammates didn’t hold back either— a heartwarming video recently shared on social media captured the moment Topic scored his first basket, prompting stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams to leap from the sidelines in cheers and applause.

Nikola Topic pulls up from the mid-range and hits his first NBA bucket.

SGA and Jalen Williams were hype pic.twitter.com/8AvBgq0mBR
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) February 13, 2026

In 12 minutes of play against the Bucks, Topic scored 2 points, recorded 1 assist, and grabbed 1 rebound. As SGA, who is making a strong effort for the MVP award, and Williams did not play, the Thunder started slow, falling behind by five points in the first quarter. The Bucks continued to assert their dominance, securing a 110-93 victory.

Though it was a tough night for the Thunder, it won’t shake their standings, as they hold the top spot in the Western Conference with an impressive record of 42 wins and 14 losses. Up next, they’re set to take on the Brooklyn Nets at the Paycom Center.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: