Oklahoma City Thunder official statement: Topich undergoes spinal surgery and is expected to return before training camp.
2026-06-14 13:45
It is reported that Topitch underwent a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy, performed in Dallas by spine specialist Dr. Andrew Dorsett , with the Thunder's medical team present throughout the procedure. The team stated that the surgery went smoothly and they are optimistic about his recovery prospects.
For Topic, who is only 20 years old, this is another major challenge he has faced early in his career. As the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft , he missed the entire rookie season due to a serious knee injury before the draft and was unable to make his NBA debut.
However, during the preseason this season, Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to leave the court again for treatment. He underwent surgery last October , followed by chemotherapy, and gradually recovered his physical condition through months of rehabilitation training.
After a long wait, Topic finally made his NBA debut on February 12th of this year . Since his return, he has played in 10 regular season games. Although his playing time was limited, being able to return to the court at all was an important achievement in itself.
Following his back surgery, Topic is expected to miss next month's NBA Summer League. Because minimally invasive lumbar discectomy typically requires several months of recovery time, the Thunder are taking a cautious approach to ensure the young guard is fully healthy for the new season.
Image source: Internet
