The Oklahoma City Thunder got an update that could turn Thursday night into a moment fans have been waiting months to see: rookie guard Nikola Topić has been upgraded to available and can make his NBA debut against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, if coach Mark Daigneault decides the time is right.
(UPDATED, 8:37 p.m. ET)
Topić’s story is bigger than a normal “rookie available” update. The 20-year-old first-round pick was diagnosed with testicular cancer earlier this season and began treatment, delaying the start of his year.
Nikola Topić upgraded to “available” — what that actually means for OKC tonight
“Available” is not the same thing as “definitely playing,” and that’s where Daigneault’s decision becomes the news peg.
Topić is OKC’s 2024 first-round pick (No. 12 overall), a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard the Thunder have been developing carefully. But the bigger piece is the comeback: after his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Topić recently returned to game action with OKC’s G League affiliate, a key step before the team even considers throwing him into an NBA rotation spot.
In his second G-League game on Feb. 10, he scored 22 points in 19 minutes, while adding 2 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
From a practical standpoint, if Daigneault uses him, expect one of two paths:
- Spot minutes as a secondary ballhandler (short first-half stint, quick hook if needed)
- “Break glass” usage if OKC needs another creator because of the wing absences
Even if Topić doesn’t play, his status shift is still meaningful because teams typically don’t upgrade a rookie from “out” to “available” unless the final medical and conditioning checkpoints are close. The next tell will be Daigneault’s pregame comments, and whether Topić warms up with the normal rotation group.
Why Nikola Topić’s availability is a real milestone for OKC (and not just a feel-good note)
Topić being upgraded to available is significant on two levels for the Thunder. First, it’s the natural next step after he returned to game action with the OKC Blue this week, playing 16 minutes in his first G League game back.
Second, it puts an NBA debut on the table after a season that was interrupted in a way you almost never see for a rookie. Thunder GM Sam Presti announced in late October 2025 that Topić had been diagnosed with testicular cancer after undergoing a testicular procedure earlier that month, and the team said at the time there was no timetable for his NBA debut.
On the court, the ramp-up has looked real. In his second G League game (Feb. 10), Topić scored 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting with four 3-pointers, a performance that showed both conditioning and confidence returning quickly. That’s why Thursday’s “available” tag matters: it’s not just ceremonial. It suggests OKC believes he’s reached a stage where Daigneault can use him in a controlled stint — even if it’s only a brief first-half run — depending on matchup needs and game flow.
How to watch Bucks vs. Thunder tonight (Feb. 12): time, TV, and streaming
- Matchup: Milwaukee Bucks at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Tip time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
- TV/stream: Amazon Prime Video (plus local coverage in-market)
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