**Thunder Rally Around Nikola Topic Following Cancer Diagnosis**
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti publicly announced Nikola Topic’s testicular cancer diagnosis during shootaround before the team’s game against the Washington Wizards. After the Thunder’s 127-108 win, teammate Isaiah Hartenstein spoke about Topic’s health and the strong support system within the team.
Hartenstein reflected on the kind of teammate Topic has been since joining the Thunder. He emphasized how Presti consistently brings in players who band together and support one another — a dynamic that is especially important now as Topic undergoes chemotherapy.
“The main thing is just being supportive,” Hartenstein said. “He’s been with us the last two years, and he’s been a great part of our team, even when he was hurt. It was always good to see him around. Us as a team, rallying behind him — that’s what makes our team special. Sam brings in these people that no matter what someone’s going through, we’re going to be there for each other, and I think that’s just the biggest thing.”
Isaiah Joe, who joined Hartenstein during their media availability on Thursday, echoed those sentiments. “Hart said it. Just being there for him, checking in on him,” Joe said. “He’s human. He’s going through something, but as long as we can have his back and get him through it, it’ll just warm his heart through it all and let him know that he’s not in this thing alone.”
### Coach Daigneault Provides Update on Nikola Topic
For the first time since the diagnosis, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed Topic’s testicular cancer during his pregame media availability. Daigneault expressed confidence in both Topic’s resilience and the team’s strong support network.
“He’s doing great given the circumstances, which is unsurprising,” Daigneault said. “Sam mentioned it today, but there’s no one at 20 years old more equipped with the maturity, discipline, and toughness to handle a situation like this than he is. Our locker room — there’s no locker room that I believe is more equipped to encourage and support someone through something like this than ours.”
Daigneault continued, “We’ve got his back. He knows that. He’s around. He’s been around. He’ll continue to be around, and everybody will do the best they can. But, we’re very confident in the person and the prognosis, and the environment that we have around him as we go through this with him.”
The Thunder will conclude their three-game homestand on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-isaiah-hartenstein-supportive-reaction-nikola-topic-cancer-diagnosis
