Obi Toppin, the former Knicks player who was traded to the Pacers, is making a return to Madison Square Garden with a chance to eliminate his former team before hitting free agency. Despite being booed lightly by Knicks fans during his appearances in this series, Toppin has been a strong presence off the bench for the Pacers. He has been averaging an efficient 11 points on 60.5 percent shooting and has even provided the series with impressive breakaway jams.
Toppin’s time with the Knicks was not smooth-sailing. He was drafted by the team in 2020 as their power forward of the future, but Julius Randle unexpectedly emerged as an All-Star, relegating Toppin to inconsistent reserve minutes. The breaking point came during last year’s Eastern Conference semis when Toppin and coach Tom Thibodeau got into a heated altercation after Game 4 in Miami. This incident stemmed from Toppin’s frustration over his role on the team.
After being traded to the Pacers for future second-round picks, Toppin hoped for more consistency and an opportunity to showcase his skills. He also had the chance to increase his value as a restricted free agent in 2024. Toppin admitted that he was initially upset about the trade but understood that it was just part of the business side of things.
During his time with the Pacers, Toppin faced some challenges as well. He was pulled from the starting lineup at one point during the regular season. However, he still managed to achieve career highs in minutes, points, field-goal percentage, and rebounds. Notably, he played in all 82 games, which is relevant to the current situation faced by the Knicks.
Toppin is now part of a Pacers bench that is outscoring the Knicks’ bench by a significant margin in this series. Considering the Knicks’ shortage of players, especially with Randle, Hart, and Anunoby’s uncertain status, Toppin would have likely played heavy minutes if he had remained with the team. However, he is now focused on eliminating the Knicks instead.
Overall, Toppin’s return to MSG presents an opportunity for him to showcase his skills and potentially boost his value in free agency. While his time with the Knicks may not have been harmonious, he has found a role with the Pacers and has been making valuable contributions off the bench.
