Nikola Topic is pictured during the Thunder media day at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

Michael Scotto: Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti says Nikola Topic is being treated for testicular cancer with chemotherapy. Doctors are “extremely positive” about his outlook, Presti said.

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Michael Scotto: Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti says Nikola Topic is being treated for testicular cancer with chemotherapy. Doctors are “extremely positive” about his outlook, Presti said. ?? x.com | Oct. 30, 2025

Josh Robbins: The Wizards' Bilal Coulibaly will make his season debut Thursday night In Oklahoma City, Brian Keefe said. The third-year wing has worked his way back after mid-September surgery to repair a ligament in his right thumb. He suffered that injury during EuroBasket. x.com | Oct. 29, 2025

Justin Martinez: Here’s OKC’s injury report for its game against Washington tomorrow. Chet Holmgren will miss a second straight game due to lower back soreness, but Isaiah Joe has been upgraded to questionable. x.com | Oct. 29, 2025

Technically, both began their rookie years together — instantly reigniting comparisons that began years earlier at the U19 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where Holmgren’s Team USA edged Wembanyama’s France for the gold medal. Still, NBA insider Marc J. Spears revealed on ESPN’s NBA Today that the fire between the two hasn’t cooled at all. “Might be Chet,” Spears said, referring to the source of Wembanyama’s drive. “They’ve been going back to under-20s, under-18s even. Chet got a championship. Wemby doesn’t have a championship. But I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. That Chet got a one-up on him in the championship.” According to Spears, Wembanyama’s current “vengeance tour” may be fueled by that sense of unfinished business. “This is different,” Spears added. “This is angry. This is about Chet. This is about the universe. This is about what Hakeem [Olajuwon] told me to do. If he played like that against Team USA in the gold medal game, we’d be talking about something different right now.” BasketNews | Oct. 28, 2025

Draymond Green: "And lastly, I think the question that everyone has is — with the growth of Wemby, and obviously Joker — who Joker is — and obviously Shai being who Shai is — is, are we worried about the next Olympics?" "And I'm gonna say, [__] no, because I'm an American. And that's what we do — we win the Olympics. So until somebody stop that, I see no reason to be worried about them. Period." YouTube | Oct. 28, 2025

James Ham: Chet Holmgren has been ruled out for OKC tonight due to back soreness. Jalen Williams is still out. Isaiah Joe, Nikola Topic, Kenrich Williams, Thomas Sorber all listed as out. x.com | Oct. 28, 2025

Hartenstein revealed he got a close-up look at Holmgren's gains during the offseason, as we're all seeing the fruits of Chet's labor amid his first four regular-season games. “His confidence, but also just playing through contact. I think that's where he's been a lot better in,” Hartenstein said. “I've been with him all summer, seen the work he put in with Drew Hanlen, and you're kind of just seeing it right now. You're seeing this confidence. You're seeing what he's been doing for our team, and he's also just healthy, too. I think those two big keys — his confidence and him being healthy — he's one of the best bigs in the league.” Clutch Points | Oct. 28, 2025

Ajay Mitchell has emerged as a go-to option off the bench, which Hartenstein addressed after Monday's 101-94 win against the Dallas Mavericks. “I think he's just very mature. I think that's what I saw from day one. I think that's the luxury you get when you draft a guy who's a little older,” Hartenstein said. “He has confidence. He doesn't shy away from the game. He approaches the game the right way, and I think that's why you see how comfortable he is right now.” Clutch Points | Oct. 28, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nikola Topic being treated for testicular cancer, undergoing chemotherapy

Reporting by HoopsHype / Hoops Hype

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