{"id":202134,"date":"2026-02-21T12:53:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T10:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=202134"},"modified":"2026-02-21T12:53:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T10:53:09","slug":"topic-opened-his-heart-serbian-revealed-how-he-defeated-a-serious-illness-sent-a-powerful-message-to-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/topic-opened-his-heart-serbian-revealed-how-he-defeated-a-serious-illness-sent-a-powerful-message-to-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"TOPI\u0106 OPENED HIS HEART: Serbian revealed how he defeated a serious illness, sent a powerful message to fans!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Serbian basketball player Nikola Topi\u0107 delivered an excellent performance in his first game in front of home fans in Oklahoma, showing the kind of potential and talent he possesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 11 minutes on the court, he scored nine points along with three rebounds and two assists in Oklahoma\u2019s 105\u201386 victory over Brooklyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Serbian point guard went through the most difficult period of his life \u2014 defeating testicular cancer, after previously recovering from a serious knee ligament injury \u2014 and after a break of nearly two years, he is back on the court, showing why Oklahoma selected him as the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also spoke to reporters for the first time following an Oklahoma NBA game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What were these last two games like for you, considering it was not only your first time on the court in Oklahoma, but you were also an important factor in the victory?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt the beginning, it felt pretty strange. I\u2019m slowly getting my feel for the game back. I was away from the court for some time and it was really unusual to return. I caught myself doing things I had never done before. It was quite difficult to adjust, but every game has been better. The first one in the G League, the second was better. The first one here was okay, the second better. I think it will only keep improving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-serbiantimes-info wp-block-embed-serbiantimes-info\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"h8Owl175JN\"><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/topic-odusevio-nba-ligu-srbin-pokazao-raskosan-talenat-saj-ostao-u-neverici-posle-jednog-poteza\/\">TOPI\u0106 ODU\u0160EVIO NBA LIGU: Srbin pokazao rasko\u0161an talenat, \u0160aj ostao u neverici posle jednog poteza!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#132;TOPI\u0106 ODU\u0160EVIO NBA LIGU: Srbin pokazao rasko\u0161an talenat, \u0160aj ostao u neverici posle jednog poteza!&#147; &#8212; Serbiantimes.info\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/topic-odusevio-nba-ligu-srbin-pokazao-raskosan-talenat-saj-ostao-u-neverici-posle-jednog-poteza\/embed\/#?secret=9oqW3Z9BYG#?secret=h8Owl175JN\" data-secret=\"h8Owl175JN\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Against Milwaukee, you received a standing ovation when you entered the game and recorded an assist on your very first possession. You come with the reputation of a playmaker \u2014 what do you remember from that moment and how did you feel?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat was an incredible moment. I will remember it for the rest of my life thanks to the fans. I\u2019ll definitely remember it forever. It was amazing. As for the assist\u2026 I drove to the basket, I think Bobby Portis was guarding me, and I simply read the situation. As always, I try to make the right decisions and read the defense. Jagger was open, I passed him the ball and luckily he made the shot \u2014 and that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tonight you were part of two crucial runs that secured the win. What worked during those moments and helped you create the difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think we played really good defense. We rebounded well, which allowed us to run in transition where we were excellent. Then we got good shots and shared the ball. It was pretty simple. When we move the ball, attack the paint, rebound and run, it\u2019s really easy to play with these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How important was the support from your teammates and the entire organization during this two-year process?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot, of course. I have to thank the entire Thunder organization \u2014 from the players and coaching staff to the medical team and management. Everyone was a huge support throughout the whole process. And of course the fans. I\u2019ll be grateful for that for the rest of my life. I\u2019ll remember it forever and try to repay them on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You mentioned during the Summer League that you learned a lot about yourself while recovering from your ACL injury. What did you learn about yourself during this latest process?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think I learned a lot about myself again. The situation was quite unusual, so you learn a lot about your body and how it reacts to different things. It was encouraging to see that, and I\u2019m very grateful to be standing here now talking to you. I\u2019d say that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can you talk about the \u2018invisible work\u2019 you put in to stay ready for basketball while going through chemotherapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI tried to stay as ready as possible. I trained as much as I could because it made me feel better \u2014 that was the only reason. There are studies showing that training during therapy can help, and it definitely helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s only your second game, yet you looked very confident. Did you feel as confident as you appeared?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo. I was nervous. It seems that one of my strengths is hiding emotions. I was quite nervous, but I looked confident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What has been the hardest part? You practically didn\u2019t play for several years, and this is only your second NBA game. What is the biggest obstacle?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d say the physicality. It\u2019s very different compared to European basketball and the Summer League I played in. I think that\u2019s the biggest thing I\u2019ll need to adjust to,\u201d Nikola Topi\u0107 concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#d21414\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/departure-of-a-serbian-genius-from-chicago-dr-ljubomir-djordjevic-the-scientist-who-invented-artificial-blood-has-passed-away\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">DEPARTURE OF A SERBIAN GENIUS FROM CHICAGO: Dr. Ljubomir Djordjevic, the scientist who invented artificial blood, has passed away!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/by-order-of-donald-trump-america-is-putting-pressure-on-nato-to-withdraw-its-army-from-kosovo-and-metohija\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BY ORDER OF DONALD TRUMP: America is putting pressure on NATO to withdraw its army from Kosovo and Metohija!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/phoenix-at-the-crossroads-of-history-why-more-battles-were-fought-for-belgrade-than-for-any-other-city-in-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">PHOENIX AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY: Why more battles were fought for Belgrade than for any other city in the world!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/masons-in-chicago-said-no-to-kosovo-the-serbian-masonic-lodge-fought-to-ensure-the-kosovo-lodge-does-not-receive-recognition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">MASONS IN CHICAGO SAID \u201cNO\u201d TO KOSOVO: The Serbian masonic lodge fought to ensure the Kosovo lodge does not receive recognition!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/serbian-diplomats-prevented-a-scandal-in-vienna-kurtis-ambassador-wore-the-kla-symbol-immediately-sanctioned-by-the-un\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">SERBIAN DIPLOMATS PREVENTED A SCANDAL IN VIENNA: Kurti\u2019s ambassador wore the KLA symbol, immediately sanctioned by the UN!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Source<\/strong><\/strong>:\u00a0Telegraf,\u00a0<strong>Foto:\u00a0<\/strong>Youtube\/OKC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Serbian basketball player Nikola Topi\u0107 delivered an excellent performance in his first game in front of home fans in Oklahoma, showing the kind of potential and talent he possesses. In 11 minutes on the court, he scored nine points along with three rebounds and two assists in Oklahoma\u2019s 105\u201386 victory over Brooklyn. The Serbian point [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2169,"featured_media":202135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[187,1491,4663,11428,4432],"class_list":["post-202134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-nba-liga","tag-nikola-topic","tag-oporavak","tag-povratak","tag-rak","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Serbiantimes.info EN","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202134"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202153,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202134\/revisions\/202153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=202134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=202134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}