Rookie Toppin already wowing his teammates with his athleticism
NEW YORK — Some players like to get loose with a few jumpers. Maybe some lay-ups. Get a feel for the rim and the muscles.
Then there’s Obi Toppin.
“He comes in the gym 8 in the morning and his first shot is a between-the-legs dunk,” Kevin Knox said. “His athleticism is just crazy.”
There are few certainties with rookies in the NBA, but this much can be assured about Toppin: athletically, he’s a monster. The 22-year-old power forward showed up to Knicks training camp and set a goal of breaking the conditioning test records.
First goal was achieved. We’re envisioning a Toppin-Zion final in the Slam Dunk contest.
“When I go out there I try my best to have the highest score — I always ask what the highest score is so I can beat it,” Toppin, the eighth overall pick, said Thursday. “And I believe I’m the highest person in the conditioning test.”
Toppin has the potential to electrify the Garden, and it’s a shame there won’t be fans to appreciate his high-flying act. But New York’s plan is to keep Toppin well after the vaccine will allow for a full MSG, and he’s stepping into a promising situation in Year 1 with a demanding coach and a roster that should provide him plenty of opportunities.
He’s only behind LaMelo Ball as the betting favorites for Rookie of the Year, according to PointsBet, and it’s easy to understand the logic: Toppin’s older and more NBA-ready than the other top draft picks, with a proven ability to score at the NCAA level.
“I think offensively he’s about as ready as a young guy can be coming into the league,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Defensively, he’s got to learn, he’s got to grow, as most young guys do. But we think he’s a great fit for what we’re looking to do.”
As scouts assessed before the draft, Toppin’s ability to elevate into an All-Star and promote winning will reside on his defense. It was an issue at Dayton, albeit easy to mask in the Atlantic 10, most concerningly in the pickand-roll.
Toppin’s game is brazen and powerful, but his personality comes across as humble and eager. That’s a good sign for Toppin’s ability to mesh with Thibodeau, a forceful leader who doesn’t coach to compromise defense.
“He’s known for his defense and I feel like with my athletic ability, my speed, the way I move my body, (I can be successful on defense),” Toppin said. “I understand my body and I understand the things I need to do to get better and to take my game to another level so I’m locked in, I’m at another level. I’m not in college anymore, and I’m locked into what I have to do to be great.”
The Knicks haven’t crowned a Rookie of the Year since Mark Jackson in 1988. There are a lot of variables before considering whether Toppin will end the 32-year drought, whether it’s his growth on defense or his projected playing time with Julius Randle on the roster.
But there are no concerns about his athleticism at 6-foot-9.
“He’s beyond a freak athlete,” teammate Austin Rivers said.