Obi Toppin has only played three games for the Indiana Pacers this season and hasn't touched the court since October. Even so, his value has only gone up while he's been on the shelf, and he may be inching ever so close to untouchable for Indiana.
Obi Toppin is more important to the Pacers' success than many thought
In his first two full seasons in Indiana, Toppin showed a ton of improvement and proved that he is more than just a high-flyer. During that span, the Dayton alum averaged 10.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.3 minutes while shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from deep.
Toppin certainly has his flaws (particularly regarding his rebounding and overall defense), but he is a real asset to the Pacers. His ability to stretch the floor and play small-ball center (and sometimes even close games for Indiana, even when Myles Turner was on the team) makes him a perfect fit in the team's system.
But this season, even without seeing him on the court for the most part, the Pacers are being reminded of exactly why Toppin is a key part of what they do.
One of the reasons Toppin is such a good fit in Indiana is because of the speed, energy, and athleticism he provides. The Pacers love playing a fast-paced, run-and-gun offense, and having players who can keep up with that is crucial. Toppin is certainly one of those players, and given how much value he provides in transition and just being able to push the pace makes him essential to their success.
Without him (and Tyrese Haliburton, obviously), the Pacers haven't been able to run at the same tempo they are used to. It's still there at times, but it's clear that the offense is working more in the half-court and slowing things down a bit with Andrew Nembhard running the point.
Additionally, while the Pacers have gotten solid play out of Jay Huff, there are some concerns about his long-term fit with the team, mostly because he isn't the fastest big man in the world. Toppin shouldn't be a full-time center when he returns, but having him back and available to play the role should make things easier for them to play their brand of basketball again.
Toppin isn't untouchable, and if the price was right, the Pacers would certainly move on from him if needed. But as it stands, there aren't many reasons to believe they would even want to. The 27-year-old was already an important part of their team, and this season has only established that idea even more.
As the Pacers look to re-establish themselves as title contenders as soon as next season, fans should expect Toppin to be around and help them finish what they started in 2025.