Category Sports News

NBA player Nikola Topic, a guard with Oklahoma City Thunder, has started chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The 20-year-old Serb underwent a procedure on 6 October at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to take a biopsy.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said doctors were “extremely positive” about Topic’s long-term health.

“The results of the biopsy have been returned and he is dealing with a case of testicular cancer”, said Presti.

“Tope didn’t want to make this information public until he had begun the actual treatments, which he has recently. He’s been in here, he’s training, he’s working out – through this entire process he’s been able to do that.

” He has a tremendous group of oncologists and they are extremely positive about his outlook in dealing with the situation. “

Presti did not put a timescale on when he expected Topic to be back playing and added:” Our only expectations for him are to focus on this.

“This is his most important priority. He’ll be back playing basketball when he’s able to, but we’re not putting any time length or expectations on that.

” He has our total support, encouragement and love. “

While Wales head coach Craig Bellamy is eager to see the full potential of his side’s World Cup campaign, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna claims he has not had any conversations with Celtic regarding their managerial vacancy.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation on Monday, both have been linked to the manager’s position with the Scottish champions.

McKenna referred to Celtic as “a really big football club,” but he also emphasized that he is “in the middle” of a “long-term project” with Ipswich Town.

The 39-year-old took over Ipswich in 2021 and helped them to acclaim the Premier League with back-to-back promotions, but they only won four games before being relegated back to the Championship, where they currently sit 12th in England’s second tier.

When asked about being on Celtic’s shortlist, the London-born former Northern Ireland youth international said, “I have not had any of those conversations.”

“I haven’t given it any thought or where I’ve spent my time this week.”

Given his boyhood allegiances, it has been suggested that McKenna would be willing to talk to Celtic.

When asked about those, he said, “We all have our affinities growing up.” Although it’s a really big football club, I don’t think everyone needs to run around and say what they’re doing.

In 2024, McKenna was reportedly asked about his reported £5 million release clause after signing a new four-year contract.

He responded, “There are things in every manager’s contract.” I don’t know what mine are, but I wouldn’t tell you anyway if I did!

“I approach this job like I’ll be Ipswich manager forever,” I said. Although I am aware that this may not always be the case, I will always do my best for the duration of my stay.

Bellamy originally signed for Celtic from Newcastle United on loan in 2005, but the former Wales international wants to complete the current World Cup campaign, which would effectively prevent the 46-year-old from taking the position immediately.

Wales is currently in third place in their qualifying group, one place behind Belgium and North Macedonia in second place.

With a successful Nations League campaign, they are almost certain of making those play-offs if they win over Liechtenstein and North Macedonia in November, even if they don’t come out as Group J runners-up.

Up until the end of the season, Juventus have appointed Luciano Spalletti as their manager.

Igor Tudor, who was fired after the Serie A side’s defeat by Lazio on Sunday, is now 66.

Tudor, who had replaced Thiago Motta in March, left after seven months as the result of an eight-game winless run.

Before taking over the Italian national team, which had failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup under Roberto Mancini, Spalletti led Napoli to the Serie A title in 2022-23.

He assisted them in qualifying for Euro 2024, where Switzerland knocked them out in the last 16.

However, Spalletti was fired by Italy in June following their defeat to Norway in a World Cup qualifying match, putting the Azzurri at risk of dropping out of the tournament for a third time in a row.

Spalletti has also led the Italian leagues of Inter Milan, Roma, and the Udinese, and won the Russian Premier League twice with Zenit St. Petersburg.

Juventus finished seventh in Serie A, six points clear of Napoli after nine games, thanks to Massimo Brambilla’s interim leadership of their 3-1 victory over Udinese on Wednesday.