There were a handful of moving dives for Knicks forward Obi Toppin in his rookie season. But there were not many offenses or minutes for the lottery selection in 2020.
According to the Brooklyn product, he is still discovering the leap from Dayton to the NBA and hopes to unveil “new things” to spur his adjustment.
The Dayton dunk machine’s highlight of the rookie season may come in Atlanta when he is invited to take part in the Slam Dunk competition at the newly held All-Star event.
A broad grin broke across Toppin’s face about the possibility – a possible indication that he has a legitimate chance of an invitation.
“The Dunk game, I think we’ll just have to wait and see,” said a smiling Toppin. “I not only want to give everyone answers, but hopefully I can be there. Maybe not. So we’ll just have to wait and see. ”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau rides on rising star Julius Randle for nearly 40 minutes per game, limiting Toppin’s playing time to just 12 minutes.
Toppin’s team defense needed work, and he was not yet physically fit enough to create his own shot. The power prediction is too often placing the perimeter and spilling away on the perimeter, where he was not yet known as an elite three-point shooter.
“I feel like I’m still trying to find my offense and make my strengths offensive,” Toppin said. ‘I feel like everyone is helping me with that, my coaches and teammates. All the guys help me try to find what I’m really good at. ‘
‘I’m still trying to find my offensive place, for the first time in the NBA. I’m trying to figure out at this level what I’m really good at. I’m going to start trying new things. ‘
Asked what differences he noticed between Dayton and the NBA, Toppin said: ‘The difference between university and now – I feel like physicality, the speed of the game, those two things are probably the most important things I’m concerned about. must adjust. I learn every day and feel like I’m getting better. ‘
The missing summer league was a big loss for Toppin, who did not play in an elite program like Immanuel Quickley in Kentucky. NBA GMs still projected that Toppin would compete at the age of 22 for the Rookie of the Year, which would select him as the third best candidate.
One NBA source connected to the Knicks said of Toppin’s awkward situation: ‘Some things he does at college do not work. That’s all he knows now. He could not acclimatize to the NBA because it differs from the university. He learns. He knows it’s a process. He knows that he is a rookie and that he needs to learn a lot. He’s ready for it, and he’s patient, too. Give it time, it will come. ”
In 13 games, Toppin averaged 4.6 points. 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He also missed ten games with a spawn.
Thibodeau said he needs to improve his team defense and feels that the absence of the summer league is really hurting the college player of the year.
“All rookies, that’s the challenge,” Thibodeau said. ‘You have a skill of the players in the league that is different from the university. The track is different, the rules are different. He needs to get to know the system he is in. He needs to get to know the players in the league and the system he is going against. There are many good things he does every day. But for the first time, it’s a challenge for every rookie. The second time will be better, then the third time better. He is making good, steady progress. ‘
On Saturday, the 6-foot 9 Toppin will face a boy god – fellow Brooklyn Brooklyn Carmelo Anthony – while the Knicks host the Trail Blazers. He finally hopes to master Anthony’s interiors.
“I’ve definitely been watching him my whole life,” Toppin said. “He’s a great player. He has a very strong postal game. He has a very good touch. I will try to see the falsehoods of the different movements he has in the post [him]. ”