Toppin ‘excited’ to get to the real thing
Team’s top draft pick moving forward without usual prep
NEW YORK — Obi Toppin is bracing for the live ammo.
Following the first pandemic-shortened season in NBA history, the Knicks top pick, along with his fellow 2020 rookie class, are jumping into an NBA season without a combine, without a Summer League, without a regular training camp and without a typical slate of preseason games.
And even though Toppin and the Knicks had encouraging moments in preseason, the 22-year-old understands it was just a drill.
“Everybody is talking about the difference because it’s real now. My coach at Dayton (Anthony Grant) used to put it in terms of the preseason games were rubber bullets. When you get into the real games that count, those are real bullets,” Toppin said. “We’re jumping into the fire. It’s a quick turnaround — not one everyone is used to. But I always said, this opportunity for me to be in this position is a blessing. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m super excited.”
Toppin, like most of the Knicks, hasn’t played a consequential 5-on-5 game in over nine months and will end the layoff Wednesday in the season opener at Indiana. Although he represents the Knicks’ latest new hope as the eighth overall pick, Toppin likely won’t start and minutes may be tough to find behind power forward Julius Randle.
The preseason uncovered some concerns about Toppin’s outside shooting and aggressiveness, but also positively served to demonstrate his speed and athleticism. Toppin said he absorbed the film for what it’s worth.
“We watched a lot of things. There’s a lot of things I did good and a couple of things I did bad.