OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren addressed the significance of Nikola Topic’s NBA debut in Thursday’s 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center. Holmgren’s media availability was followed by Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s touching reaction to Topic’s first game in the NBA, and the All-Star forward didn’t hold back.
As someone who missed his entire rookie season due to injury, Holmgren made it clear that his comparisons with Topic’s failures end there, as the 2024 12th overall pick was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October. Four months removed from three rounds of chemotherapy, Topic checked in to his first NBA matchup on Thursday, which left a lasting impression It’s Holmgren.
“Anyone battling cancer is fighting for their life. I’ve never been able to understand what it’s like. It just speaks to the power of [Topić]And who he is as a person,” Holmgren said. “It would have been very appropriate for him to be down and angry at everyone around him, and be angry at the world because the child he is doesn’t deserve this. We’re all very happy that he was able to fight through it, get back to hooping.
“You see the huge smile on his face when he’s able to put his shoes on and get out there. I thought he played a really good game tonight. He could have made 100 shots or missed 100 shots tonight; it was an amazing game for him. To be able to get out there, get some reps under his belt, and now, he can learn from them, we can learn from him too.”
Chet Holmgren’s heartfelt reaction to Nikola Topic’s NBA debut: “Anyone who is battling cancer is fighting for their life. I could never understand what that’s like.
It speaks of the strength of [Topić]Who he is as a person…the child he is, he doesn’t deserve that.” pic.twitter.com/U1KwVvr3JQ
-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 February 2026
Chet Holmgren praises Thunder rookie Nikola Topic
As Chet Holmgren and the Thunder embrace Nikola Topic’s vision as a secondary playmaker, Holmgren sees how the Thunder rookie will only improve from here. With Topic making his NBA debut with the Thunder, this is an important step forward in his first NBA season.
“He’s a unique player. I feel like he’s probably the most pass-first guy on the team,” Holmgren said. “He’s out there really trying to put guys in advantageous situations, and then trying to score second. We have to learn that when he’s on the field and learn to play with him a little bit. As we get better with him and he continues to get better, I think it’s going to be really good.
“But all those things are secondary. First of all, we’re happy he’s back in good health, and he’s out there,” Holmgren concluded.
Holmgren’s double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) and two blocks led the Thunder starters in a loss to the Bucks on Thursday. Isaiah Joe’s 17 points, including four threes, led the Thunder in scoring off the bench.
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