Thunder's Topić to miss start of season after testicular procedure

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić will miss the start of the regular season after undergoing a testicular procedure Monday, the team announced. The 20 year old will be reevaluated in four to six weeks, a timetable that is expected to delay his NBA regular season debut until at least November and likely sidelines him for roughly the first month of play.

Topić, the Thunder's 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft, had already missed his entire rookie season after tearing his left ACL before the draft. He started the team's preseason opener on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, playing 31 minutes and finishing with 10 points and seven assists on 4 of 9 shooting. The team did not provide further medical details about Monday's procedure.

The setback interrupts a planned integration process for Topić, who spent last season rehabbing his knee and played in the summer league this year. The preseason was expected to be an important period for the 6 foot 6 guard to adjust to NBA spacing and the Thunder's roster after a career in Europe that included a 15.1 points and 5.9 assists per game average in the 2023-24 Adriatic League, a league championship with Crvena zvezda, and an MVP...