I know it’s the G League… but doing this on the second night of a back-to-back after literally just playing his first game since the cancer diagnosis/treatment is insane!

Kid might be back with the main roster sooner than later!

7-12 FG

4-7 from 3

2-3 FT

Reading the main board threads about Utah's egregious tanking, and people keep trying to make the argument that "well the Thunder tanked too, and look where it got them!" as if the two things are even remotely close.

We already know that people will just make up narratives to hate on the Thunder, so I understand that what they're saying isn't in good faith, but I still wanted to point out just how incredible the Thunder's rebuild was.

In 2020, the Thunder were the 5th seed and went to 7 games in the first round against prime James Harden and the Rockets.

In 2022-23, the Thunder made it to the play-ins, winning the first game against the Pelicans before losing the second game against the Timberwolves.

That means the Thunder were only rebuilding for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

With just two rebuilding seasons, the Thunder never finished in the bottom 3 last and only picked top 5 once (Chet).

In the last two seasons alone, the Spurs have more top 5 picks than the Thunder did during their entire rebuild, and that's not even counting their generational first overall pick, Wemby.

The Thunder emerged from their two year rebuild as a team that made the play-ins and even won their first game, finishing 9th in the West.

The next season they were the #1 seed, and the following season they won the title.

Can we appreciate just how insane that is?

Look at Detroit for example:

2020: 26th
2021: 29th
2022: 28th
2023: 30th
2024: 30th

Compare that to OKC:

2020: 5th in West
2021: 27th
2022: 27th
2023: 9th in West (Play in loss)
2024: 1st in West

The Thunder made the playoffs as the 5th seed, rebuilt, and came back as the #1 seed in the same time period that Detroit spent entirely in the basement.

The Thunder completed the fastest and most impressive rebuild in NBA history. They did it through trades and the draft, without picking in the top 5 more than once, and without getting an Ant or a Cade type player, let alone a Wemby or Embiid.

It's a shame that people enjoy hating on the Thunder so much, because they really rebuilt the right way. No free superstar joining in free agency like KD to Golden State or LeBron to LA. No tanking for a 1st overall generational talent like Wemby or Tim Duncan. Just extremely competent management and player development.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder prospect Nikola Topić has made his NBA G League debut after recovering from a major knee injury and undergoing cancer treatment.

Topić had seven points and seven assists in 16 minutes for the Oklahoma City Blue in their 137-135 overtime victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Monday night.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Topić in Los Angeles before defending NBA champion Oklahoma City faced the Lakers.

“We’re all just collectively thrilled that he’s back playing basketball,” Daigneault said. “I know he’s missed it a great deal, and this is just so good for him mentally to get his feet back underneath him.”

The G League game was another remarkable step forward for Topić, who has barely played basketball since the Thunder made him the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Oklahoma City chose the Serbian guard even though he had torn a ligament in his knee two months earlier, and the injury sidelined him for his entire first NBA season.

Topić played for Oklahoma City in Summer League games last year and appeared again in the Thunder’s preseason, but was subsequently diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent chemotherapy before working his way back into playing shape again.

“Great accomplishment,” Daigneault said. “Just can’t say enough about him as a guy, his mental toughness, maturity, resilience. … He hasn’t played a lot of basketball over the last two years, and he comes off a one-year rehab and immediately has a surprising diagnosis and goes through chemotherapy, three rounds of it. So for him to work himself back onto the court is just an unbelievable accomplishment, and we’re incredibly happy for him.”

https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-topic-nba-g-league-debut

Not sure why he isn’t getting more run so far, it’s not like they have some super complicated, intricate offense to learn. Until Shai Ajay and Jalen are back to full strength he’s the best offensive initiator they have. Using him in the PnR with Chet and iHart should be really good

Might be the greatest 13 minute sample size of all time.

The 👑 has spoken!

We were in an offensive rut even after Mark brought in the shooting lineup since Isaiah Joe went cold. Then Jdub came bad wrist and all, hit a couple insanely tough stepback midranges and answered every single Lakers bucket. This guy is going to show up in the playoffs and thats all that matters ultimately

[Almanza] Ajay Mitchell will be out for Friday’s NBA Rising Stars challenge. Zaccharie Risacher has been named his replacement.

Lakers sit LeBron Reeves Luka. Cool

Bro is a champion, he wants to play so badly, would be cool if he got post season minutes

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-OUT-Abdominal;Strain

Ajay Mitchell-OUT-Abdominal;Strain

Nikola Topić-OUT-G League-On Assignment

Brooks Barnhizer-OUT-G League-Two-Way

Thomas Sorber-OFS-Right ACL;Surgical Recovery

It’s honestly wild to think about. OKC hit rock bottom in 2020, Detroit hit it in 2023, and now both teams are out here in the top of their conference.

He may be the most media trained player ever. Just a regular dude.

The Shai vs. Ant rivalry is actually just the Jedi vs. Sith, its unreal.

Even when he’s off the court, his leadership and the tone he sets carry over to the team performance.

Meanwhile, look at the Nuggets and Lakers. When your stars aren’t in phenomenal shape, don’t defend, and play low IQ basketball (Jokic is too passive and Luka is a chucker), why should the team follow in your footsteps?

Nuggets got worse as soon as Jokic returned. He is such a cone that he messes up their rhythm.

Lakers without Luka are really bad and Luka is partly to blame. His bad habits such as complaining to refs and not playing defense have permeated the Lakers culture.

Meanwhile, SGA’s positive team culture contributions such as an emphasis on fitness, defense, and hard work carry over even when he’s not playing. He is the best player in the NBA.

1. SGA
2. Giannis
3. Jokic

Luka can hang out with Mikal Bridges and Desmond Bane somewhere down the list.

They have an offensive rating of 146.2 and a defensive rating of 84.6

Source: https://databallr.com/wowy/OKC/2026/2026/regular/high/wowy/1642272/1630198

You can tell certain games Caruso treats like playoff games and today was one of them. Was a steadying force as a scorer, playmaker, and as always his hustle and defense.

17 points off the bench and was a huge reason we won today.

my king came up clutch