Nikola Topic cleared to make potential NBA debut Thursday after ACL tear and cancer fight

Nikola Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is available to make his long-awaited NBA debut Thursday night (ET) against the Bucks, capping an extraordinary 18-month journey that included an ACL tear and a successful battle with testicular cancer. While playing time is not guaranteed, being active for the first time gives the 19-year-old guard his first real window to step on an NBA floor.

A brutal first stretch: from lottery pick to months of rehab

Topic entered the league as a teenager with size, feel, and playmaking chops that projected him as a long-term backcourt piece. That trajectory veered instantly when he suffered a torn ACL ahead of the 2024-25 season, sidelining him for his entire rookie campaign. After working nearly a year to return, he was dealt a second, far more serious blow just weeks before the 2025-26 season: a diagnosis of testicular cancer. The focus shifted from basketball to treatment and recovery, halting any plans of a fall debut and pushing his timeline into the winter.

The comeback accelerates in the G League

Following rounds of chemotherapy and clearance to return to basketball activities, Topic ramped up with the franchise’s G League affiliate to test his conditioning and rhythm. Across two games, he showed encouraging signs. His second outing was especially eye-catching: 22 points in 19 minutes with four assists, hitting 7 of 12 from the field and 4 of 7 from beyond the arc in a win over Sioux Falls. The performance checked important boxes for touch, timing, and confidence from deep, and it helped set the stage for the step he takes this week—being available for NBA action.

What Topic can add right now

At 6-6 with a sturdy frame, Topic profiles as a ball-dominant guard who leverages pace, angles, and size to orchestrate. His vision and timing are strengths, and he’s comfortable initiating in pick-and-roll, where he can pressure the rim, hit the weak-side shooter, or feed the roller. The recent three-point clip, even in a limited sample, is an encouraging signal as he integrates alongside ball-handling teammates. Defensively, his length offers switchability guards don’t always provide, and that versatility could allow him to fit into multi-guard lineups that keep the ball humming without sacrificing size.

Minutes, roles, and expectations on Thursday

Being active is the key milestone; cracking the rotation is a separate challenge on a deep, contending roster. The team has not committed to a set minute load for Topic, and his usage could hinge on game flow, matchups, and how the guard rotation shakes out behind established starters. A brief cameo—especially if the score swings late—may be the most realistic path to a first appearance. The larger win is that he’s cleared to compete, with medical and performance thresholds met after surgery, rehab, treatment, and conditioning work.

Big-picture value for a contender

Even a gradual integration could prove meaningful down the stretch. For a team with championship ambitions, adding another dribble-pass-shoot option who can toggle between on-ball creation and connective play has compounding value. Topic’s development also gives the organization optionality as contracts evolve and roles shift over future seasons. If he translates his decision-making and size to the NBA level, he can stabilize bench units, ease creation burdens on lead guards, and add lineup flexibility in matchups that demand more length on the perimeter.

A milestone worth celebrating

Whether or not he touches the court Thursday in Milwaukee, Topic’s activation is a landmark moment—personally and professionally. In less than two years, he’s navigated an ACL tear, endured a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and fought back into game shape. The next steps—earning minutes and finding consistency—will take time, but the most important step is already here. For Topic, and for a contender always seeking another edge, the door to the NBA is finally open.