There has been a handful of commotion for Knicks striker Obi Toppin in his rookie season. But there has been no offense or minutes for the 2020 lottery selection.
The Brooklyn product said it is still discovering Dayton’s jump into the NBA and hopes to reveal “new things” to stimulate its fit.
The highlight of the Dayton dunk machine rookie season may come to Atlanta if you have been invited to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at the new All-Star event.
A big smile broke Toppin’s face at the possibility: a potential indicator he has within his intelligence of having a legitimate chance at an invitation.
“The Dunk Contest, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” a smiling Toppin said. “I do not want to give you all the answers, but I hope I can be there. Maybe not. So we will have to wait and see ”.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau leads rising star Julius Randle nearly 40 minutes per game, limiting Toppin’s playing time to just 12 minutes.
Toppin’s team needs defense and has not been physical enough to create his own shot. Too often, the forward is picking and losing on the perimeter, where he has not been known as a 3-point sniper.
“I feel like I’m still trying to find my offense, my strengths on the offensive side,” Toppin said. “I feel like everyone helps me with this, my coaches and teammates. All of these guys help me try to find what I’m really good at. “
“I’m still trying to find my offensive place, the first time I play in the NBA. I try to figure out what I’m really good at at this level. I will start trying new things. “
Asked what differences surprised him between Dayton and the NBA, Toppin said, “The difference between college and now: I feel the physicality, the speed of the game, those two things are probably the things I have to adjust to. “I’m learning every day and I feel like I’m getting better.”
The lack of the summer league meant a major loss for Toppin, who did not play in an elite program like Immanuel Quickley in Kentucky. The NBA GMs still projected that Toppin, at 22, would compete for the Rookie of the Year, voting him the third most likely candidate.
An NBA source connected to the Knicks said of Toppin’s awkward situation, “Some of the things he does in college don’t work. That’s all he knows right now. He hasn’t been able to adapt to the NBA because he’s different from college. He’s learning. He knows it’s a process. He knows he’s a rookie and he has a lot to learn. He’s prepared for that and he’s patient, too. Give him time, he’ll come. “
In 13 games, Toppin averages 4.6 points. 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He has also missed 10 games with a beef stump.
Thibodeau said he needs to improve his team’s defense and believes the absence of summer leagues really hurts the college player of the year.
“All newbies, that’s the challenge,” Thibodeau said. “You have a different ability from the league players than the university. The lane is different, the rules are different. You need to know the system you are in. You need to know the players in the league and the system you are against. There are so many good things he does every day. But the first time, it’s a challenge for all newcomers. The second time will be better, the third time better. He is making good steady progress. ”
On Saturday, the 6-foot, nine-foot Toppin will face a child idol: his Brooklynite teammate Carmelo Anthony, when the Knicks will be the Trail Blazers. He finally hopes to master Anthony’s inner movements.
“I definitely saw him my whole life,” Toppin said. “He is an incredible player. He has a very strong playing post. It has a very good touch. Seeing the different movements it has in place, the fakes, I will try to learn from them [him]”.