By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
When the Denver Nuggets travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center this Friday, the contest represents much more than a typical Western Conference seeding battle. While the defending champions sit atop the league standings at 45-15 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, and the Nuggets at 37-22 and aiming to remain within striking distance, the primary narrative surrounding this game is the emotional reunion between three-time season MVP Nikola Jokic and his fellow countryman, Nikola Topic. For the established superstar, this matchup wavers far beyond the box score, but is a celebration of resilience and the passing of a torch within the Serbian national basketball program.
Following a dominant victory over the Boston Celtics, 31-year-old Jokic spoke candidly about his anticipation of seeing Topic. The two shared a brief but impactful tenure with the senior Serbian national team, and Nuggets leader was quick to offer high praise for the 20-year-old point guard.
“He’s a really good guy, really talented. I know he’s the future of Serbian basketball,” stressed the Sombor native in a postgame interview following Wednesday’s win.
After enduring a grueling recovery from a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2024-25 championship campaign, Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October.
“He was fighting something that was most important. So, he won it,” Jokic focused on the recent recovery of his fellow Serbian player. “Hopefully, I’m going to see him tomorrow.”
Since finally introducing himself to the NBA two weeks ago, nearly two years after being the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, Topic has logged five appearances, averaging 3.2 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 rebounds.