Looks like the Oklahoma City Thunder will soon get even more NBA-capable help. They announced on Saturday that Nikola Topic has been assigned to the G League. This is obviously a step in the right direction. He's missed the entire 2026-27 regular season due to back surgery he had in June 2026.
Topic should suit up for the OKC Blue's next matchup against the Osceola Magic on Sunday, Nov. 8. After getting his 2027-28 team option declined, he'll likely have a chance to log serious NBA minutes for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old is playing out a contract year.
Injuries and illness have completely plagued Topic's NBA journey. He was the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. He missed the entire 2024-25 season with a torn ACL. He was then
limited to just 10 games in the 2025-26 season as he recovered from a testicular cancer diagnosis in Oct. 2025. He eventually beat that and returned right before the 2026 NBA All-Star break.
Now, Topic's latest injury is recovering from a back surgery he had this past offseason. Originally expected to be ready by training camp, things have obviously not panned out the way the Thunder had hoped. He's missed OKC's first 10-plus games. Looks like he's finally getting closer to a return, though, with this G League assignment.
Topic spent time on the Blue last season. That was part of his recovery process as he went through several rounds of chemotherapy in a three-month span. So he should be familiar with the G League staff, with the hope that he knocks off rust and puts up big-time numbers.
Thunder PR:
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) November 7, 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned guard Nikola Topić to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder assign Nikola Topic to G League
