After winning their fourth straight game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the Indiana Pacers are now 14-15 and own the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their offense is gradually returning to their peak form, and the Pacers are getting a huge boost from the returns of Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard, who each missed significant time due to injuries.
Another player who has impressed during the Pacers' recent hot streak that may be flying under the radar is forward Obi Toppin. In the team's last four games, the second-year Pacer is averaging 15 points on an incredible 61.8% from the field and 47.4% from the three-point line. Additionally, he is averaging 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals over the last four games as well.
Following Indiana's victory on Sunday, head coach Rick Carlisle praised Toppin for taking "his game to another level" in recent weeks.
"In the last two-and-a-half, three weeks, Obi has taken his game to another level," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "More physical. Defense and rebounding really, really tremendous. Offensively, he’s getting in a rhythm. He’s one of our important weapons. When he defends and rebounds the way he has been in recent games, it’s another really important factor for us.”
Based on Carlisle's comments, it appears that Toppin will continue to play an essential role in Indiana's system. This should bode well for the New York native's Pacers career.
Rick Carlisle praises Obi Toppin, calls him 'important'
Earlier this month, ESPN's Bobby Marks named Toppin as the Pacers' likeliest trade candidate this season. Marks cited Toppin's new four-year, $58 million contract as a major reason for his idea. Trading him would allow the Pacers to have more financial flexibility, which is key if they want to re-sign long-time big man Myles Turner in the offseason.
However, it seems more likely now that the Pacers will keep Toppin as part of their second unit, which remains arguably the best one in the NBA.
On the year, Toppin has appeared 28 games for the Pacers, all off the bench. In those games, he is averaging 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Additionally, he is also shooting a league-leading 72.% from inside the arc.
Toppin had a career year in his first season with the Pacers. What makes his current campaign more impressive, though, is his impressive performance beyond the box score. Toppin is playing with a lot of energy and has improved dramatically on the defensive side of the ball. For a Pacers team currently ranked 22nd-best defensive team in the NBA, this is a huge deal.
Given the impressive start to his 2024-25 season, Toppin may have just saved his Pacers career and will continue to be a major player on the roster. A lot can happen before February's trade deadline, but as it stands now, it is fair to assume that Toppin will not be going anywhere.