Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic is facing another setback, but this time there’s a defined path back to the court. The team announced Saturday that Topic underwent a minimally invasive procedure to address a herniated disc in his lower back, officially ruling him out of summer league action.
According to the Thunder’s PR department, Topic’s surgery — a lumbar microdiscectomy — was successful. He’s expected to be fully cleared for the start of training camp this fall. That timeline matters for a young player whose NBA career has been anything but smooth.
Topic’s rookie season never really got off the ground. He tore his ACL before the 2024-25 campaign even began, wiping out his entire debut year. Then, just as he was working his way back into the mix for Oklahoma City’s title defense in this year’s playoffs, he received a testicular cancer diagnosis. He recovered, made his emotional NBA debut in February 2026, and earned a standing ovation from the Paycom Center crowd. Now, another health hurdle — but this time, the recovery window is measured in months, not seasons.
Topic spent most of the 2025-26 season in the G League with the Oklahoma City Blue, where he averaged 5.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 rebounds across 10 regular-season appearances — including two starts for the Thunder. His most memorable moment came in a 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, when he checked in during the first half and the crowd rose to its feet.
“Awesome moment. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life — thanks to the fans,” Topic said after that game. “For sure, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”
The Thunder open summer league play in Salt Lake City on July 4, but Topic will be watching from the sideline. The team has not indicated any further concerns about his long-term availability, and with training camp still months away, the expectation is that this procedure is a minor detour rather than a major one.
For a player who has already battled through an ACL tear and cancer, a disc issue and a summer on the shelf is just another chapter in a story that’s still being written.
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