The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Monday that young point guard Nikola Topic underwent testicular surgery and will be out for four to six weeks. The news represents a further blow for the Serbian player, who already missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in 2024.

The announcement was made by the franchise and confirmed by journalist Marc Stein, who detailed that Topic will be re-evaluated once his initial recovery period is complete. Although the 20-year-old player was not projected as a starter, his talent and potential make him one of the most interesting prospects on the roster coached by Mark Daigneault.

During the last Summer League, Topic made a good impression. In three games, he averaged 7.3 assists per game and demonstrated a remarkable ability to create plays, in addition to an advanced reading of the basketball. According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, the Serbian “showed glimpses of his potential in the summer league, displaying his playmaking ability and on-court intelligence. Those skills could help him earn backup minutes behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.”

Another setback for a promising rookie

Topic joined the Thunder as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft, hoping to become a future player on the reigning NBA champion's roster. However, his adaptation has been hampered by physical issues that have kept him off the court.

The young guard had drawn praise during training camp. “He’s been good. I played with him a couple of times last week; his approach to the game really stands out,” said Chet Holmgren, who also missed a year due to injury during his rookie season. "He's going to continue to improve very quickly; he has a serious attitude toward the game."

His teammate Cason Wallace agreed. "He's a lot of fun to play with. He's a great point guard, sees the court very well, and makes very few mistakes," he said.