Mar 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1) high-fives his teammates on the bench during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Miami Heat
(New York, NY) — The future is now for Obi Toppin.
It’s clear that he is looking forward to his post-Knicks career. Toppin raved about his new organization and the opportunity he has entering the final year of his rookie contract, not talking much about the team that drafted him.
“All I can do is just do whatever the coach is asking me to do,” the 6-foot-9 Toppin said during a Zoom call in his first public comments since he was traded to the Pacers of Indiana. “Whether that’s being out on the floor, having great energy, doing whatever I need to do to help the team win. I didn’t get the minutes I wanted. But now it’s a new start. I’m here in Indy. I got to work for everything I want. And I’m super excited to start.”
There were high hopes for Toppin, the National Player of the Year at Dayton in his final year of college basketball, after the Knicks took him eighth overall in the 2020 draft.
Despite a lot of hype for the former National Player of the Year, he’s had a very limited role in the Knicks rotation since he was taken eighth overall by them in 2020. Playing behind Julius Randle and under Tom Thibodeau did not help.
For now, Toppin is thrilled about the present with the Pacers, a young team that plays fast behind star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
“I feel like this is a fresh start for me. It’s going to be great just because it’s something new I’m going into,” he said. “But like I said before, it’s a bunch of great players, coaches, everybody who’s here is great. I can’t wait to get started, get down in Indy and get it started.”
