Obi Toppin battles New York Knicks, and brother Jacob, for first time since trade: 'He's fit in well here'
On Saturday night, Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin played against the New York Knicks for the first time of his life. The 25-year old was drafted by the Knicks in 2020 and spent the first three seasons of his career in The Big Apple.
Last summer, New York sent Toppin to Indiana in exchange for two future second-round draft picks. There were financial and roster size motivations for the Knicks in the trade, and Indiana needed depth at the four spot. It made sense for both parties, though moving on from a former lottery pick after three years is never exciting for any franchise.
On Saturday, the Pacers played the Knicks for the first time of the 2023-24 season, meaning Toppin would be going against his former team for the first time ever. And the game had some added importance for the Toppin family. Jacob, Obi's younger brother, is on a two-way contract with New York. After the Knicks made a significant trade on Saturday to acquire OG Anunoby, they needed more bodies for their game in Indiana, so they flew in Jacob Toppin.
Not only was Obi going against the Knicks for the first time ever, but he was also battling Jacob in the pros. It was a meaningful game for the Pacers forward. "He just flew in today. Just said what's up to him," Obi said of seeing his brother before the game. He added that their mom was in the building to watch the action. They had faced off before in the NCAA ranks, but never in the NBA.
Before the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about Obi and his improvement with the Pacers. "Continued development. He's a great kid. His athleticism is his gift," Thibodeau said. "Scoring in transition has always been a strong suit. I saw the work that he was putting into his shooting, saw it every day. So that hasn't surprised me at all. Great kid, great teammate. So I think he's fit in well here."
Toppin's shooting growth has been a big story for the Pacers this season and has helped him become a more impactful player. He's canning nearly 39% of his outside shots, and that has pushed his true shooting percentage to 68.7% this season. That, along with his 74.6% accuracy on two-point shots, which leads the NBA, has made him a snug fit in Indiana.
Obi tried to approach this game just like any other outing. His brother being across from him made it tougher, though, as did the Knicks being his opponent for the first time since being traded. "It's just another game," Toppin told AllPacers before tipoff. "Go out there with the same mindset, get a win."
Most players try to keep their thoughts in that headspace before outings against their former employer. But it can be difficult. Tyrese Haliburton dealt with it in Sacramento last season. It's natural to make more of it.
"Not ignore," Toppin said of the added dynamics to the game. "Just got to go out there with the same mentality."
The ex-Knick played a solid game against his former team. Obi Toppin finished with nine points on 4/6 shooting while adding eight rebounds and two assists. Indiana outscored New York by two points in his minutes. He held up well in his frequent matchup with Julius Randle, holding the New York star to 2/7 shooting according to the NBA's matchup data.
Indiana went on to win by 14, and they were up by 17 entering the final minute of the game. Both teams cleared their benches at the time, and Jacob Toppin entered for the Knicks.
There was a small hiccup, though. Obi was not in the game for the Pacers. So with 29 seconds left, after the ball tumbled out of bounds, the blue and gold had their new forward check into the game. For the first time ever, both Toppin brothers were on the same court in an NBA game.
Jacob would dish out an assist, the first of his career, on New York's next possession. It was the last trip down the floor of the game. Both brothers got to register something on the stat sheet in the duel, a fun night for Obi and his family.
"The best moment of 2023!!! Sharing an NBA game with lil bro. Crazy!!!!! First college and now the pros. All glory to God!!" Obi wrote on Instagram the following day.
It was a special day for the Toppin family, and Obi in particular had a ton of emotions to handle going against the Knicks for the first time. He managed the forces of the game well and had a solid outing, and he will never forget his first battle against New York for countless reasons. Until February 1, at least, Obi Toppin can say he's never lost to the New York Knicks, or his brother Jacob, in the NBA.
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