Obi Toppin has become a significantly better player since the Indiana Pacers acquired him from the New York Knicks in 2023. A lot of fans have looked at his three-point improvements, but Toppin's growth as a back-cutter and a defender is what has truly turned him into a valuable player.
In a recent episode of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie spoke about Toppin growing as a back-cutter and defender, which has helped him step his game up greatly since joining the Pacers.
"Where I think he's really developed since he got traded from the Knicks to Indiana is he's become a guy that can consistently play the four because he's an aggressive back-cutter and has gotten a little bit better defensively as well," Vecenie said of Obi Toppin.
In his first two seasons in Indiana, Toppin averaged 10.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc. The Brooklyn native has established himself as an important part of the Pacers' success, and as they look to remain competitive, they will continue to rely on him to contribute.
Obi Toppin has been a great addition to the Pacers
The Pacers acquired Toppin for two second-round picks in a trade that continues to age incredibly well for the team.
Throughout his stint in Indiana so far, Toppin has stepped up numerous times and has become an important role player. He provides a lot of energy on the court and has turned into a solid team player who can contribute in multiple areas on the court.
At 27 years old, Toppin is still improving and has proved that he is a great fit in Indiana's system. However, it still remains to be seen what his future with the Pacers will look like.
Toppin has been named a potential trade candidate for the Pacers, largely because of his "tradable" contract and spot on the depth chart. There is a lot to like about Toppin, but he directly stands in Jarace Walker's way, and his presence is likely negatively affecting his development. Additionally, there are reasons to believe that Indiana is still interested in avoiding the luxury tax, and moving on from Toppin could help them maintain this for the long run.
Next season will likely be a big one for Toppin. Following Tyrese Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure, many Pacers are going to have to step up in order to keep the team afloat. While many eyes will be on players like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson, Toppin is another one to monitor as his performance could determine what his playing future looks like.
Regardless of what happens, the Dayton alum has been a great acquisition for the Pacers, and he has regularly proved that he can help the team win. From this point on, it will be worth following Toppin's development to see exactly how much he can grow at the NBA level.