Obi Toppin Bio
Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr., known professionally as Obi Toppin, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. A power forward, he played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers before being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Toppin gained national recognition after winning the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, showcasing his exceptional athleticism and creativity above the rim. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds, he has developed into a versatile scoring forward and an important piece of the Pacers rotation.
Early Life and Background
Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr. was born on March 4, 1998, in Brooklyn, New York. He originally grew up in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn before his family relocated to Melbourne, Florida, during his early teenage years. He attended Heritage High School in Palm Bay as a freshman and then transferred to Melbourne Central Catholic High School for his sophomore year. After relocating again with his mother and younger brother, he enrolled at Ossining High School in New York, where he starred as a senior.
During his lone varsity season at Ossining, Toppin averaged 20.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, leading the team to its first conference title in a decade. Despite his production, he did not receive any NCAA Division I offers out of high school, which led him to enroll at Mt. Zion Preparatory School in Baltimore, Maryland, for a postgraduate year. There he averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while growing four inches to reach 6 feet 9 inches, eventually committing to the University of Dayton over several other programs.
Path to Professional Basketball
Toppin redshirted his true freshman season at Dayton after being ruled academically ineligible, but he made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman the following year. He led the Flyers with 14.4 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game, earning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors as the first freshman to earn the latter award since Lamar Odom in 1999. That summer he declared for the 2019 NBA Draft without hiring an agent, worked out for several teams, and then withdrew to return to Dayton.
In his redshirt sophomore season, Toppin emerged as one of the most decorated players in college basketball, averaging 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field. He was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, a consensus first-team All-American, the winner of the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward, and the consensus National College Player of the Year. He also collected the Oscar Robertson Trophy, the John R. Wooden Award, and the Naismith College Player of the Year award, finishing his Dayton career with 1,096 points and a school-record 190 dunks.
Obi Toppin Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Obi Toppin was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and signed his rookie scale contract shortly afterward. He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, recording nine points, three rebounds, and two blocks in 24 minutes against the Indiana Pacers. After missing ten games because of an injury, he returned to action in mid-January 2021 and quickly showcased his offensive upside by participating in the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished as runner-up to Anfernee Simons.
New York Knicks Breakthrough (2021–2023)
In his sophomore season, Toppin won the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, defeating Juan Toscano-Anderson in the final round. He followed that with a series of career-best scoring performances, including a 35-point game against the Washington Wizards on April 8, 2022, and a 42-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Toronto Raptors on April 10, 2022. By the end of the 2022–23 season, Toppin had become a starter for the Knicks and recorded multiple 30-plus-point games against the Indiana Pacers.
Toppin also became a playoff contributor for New York. After replacing an injured Julius Randle in the starting lineup during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, he posted a then-playoff career-high 18 points and eight rebounds in a second-round Game 1 loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. The Knicks ultimately traded him on July 7, 2023, sending him to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for two future second-round picks.
Indiana Pacers Era (2023–Present)
Toppin debuted for the Indiana Pacers on October 25, 2023, scoring 11 points in a win over the Washington Wizards. He quickly found his role, including a 27-point performance in an in-season tournament win over the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2023, and a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double capped by a game-winning layup against the Phoenix Suns on January 26, 2024. He finished the 2023–24 season averaging career-highs as the primary backup to Pascal Siakam and scored a playoff career-high 21 points in a series-clinching win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
On July 6, 2024, Toppin re-signed with the Pacers on a four-year, $60 million contract. He continued his strong play into 2025, scoring a season-high 34 points, including 12 in overtime and the game-winning three-pointer, in a 132–130 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 17, 2025. In October 2025, Toppin underwent surgery on his foot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toppin is known for his elite finishing ability around the rim, shot-creation from the perimeter, and reliable three-point shooting for a power forward. He combines an efficient midrange game with the athleticism to play above the rim, making him a strong fit in modern pace-and-space lineups. His veteran poise and scoring versatility allow him to function effectively as both a starter and a high-impact reserve.
Notable Events and Milestones
Toppin’s signature NBA moment came when he won the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, an event he had finished as runner-up in one year earlier. He also set personal scoring highs of 42 points against Toronto and 34 points against Minnesota, while his 1,096 points and 190 dunks at Dayton remain part of the school’s record book.
Obi Toppin Career Wins
Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr. has built a résumé highlighted by the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest title, consensus National College Player of the Year honors in 2020, and a Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top collegiate power forward. At the high school and prep levels, he led Ossining to its first conference title in a decade and earned all-conference recognition at Mt. Zion Preparatory School.
NBA Highlights
Toppin’s top NBA accomplishments include winning the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, posting a career-high 42 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2022, and helping the Indiana Pacers reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He also signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Pacers in July 2024.
Other Wins & Performances
Toppin earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 2019, two first-team All-Atlantic 10 selections, and a place on the Atlantic 10 All-Freshman Team. He was later inducted into the Dayton Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his historic college career.
Obi Toppin Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs through Obi Toppin’s family. His father, also named Obadiah, is of Barbadian descent and was a well-known streetball player in Brooklyn, performing for the Court Kingz under the nickname Dunker’s Delight. The elder Toppin also played collegiately at Globe Institute of Technology and professionally for the Brooklyn Kings, the Harlem Strong Dogs, and a club in the Dominican Republic. His mother, Roni, is of Italian descent, and his younger brother, Jacob Toppin, played college basketball for Kentucky after transferring from Rhode Island and was signed by the New York Knicks in June 2023.
Personal Life
Obi Toppin is a Christian and has a cross tattooed on his right shoulder as a public expression of his faith. He is a United States citizen who was born and raised in the New York City area before continuing his basketball journey in Florida, Maryland, and Ohio. Toppin is active on social media and continues to be recognized as one of the more recognizable personalities in the NBA.
2025 Season Performance
Obi Toppin’s 2025 campaign with the Indiana Pacers was defined by clutch scoring bursts before his season was interrupted. On March 17, 2025, he delivered one of the year’s most memorable performances, scoring a season-high 34 points, including 12 in overtime, and hitting the game-winning three-pointer to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 132–130. That victory ended Minnesota’s eight-game winning streak and reinforced Toppin’s growing value as a high-volume scorer off the bench.
Toppin operated as a key rotation piece behind Pascal Siakam, providing spacing, rim running, and shot-making on the wing. His efficiency from three-point range and ability to play above the rim gave the Pacers a versatile look in both regular and postseason settings. He continued to be a factor in tight games, regularly delivering scoring punches in fourth quarters and overtime.
In October 2025, Toppin underwent surgery on his foot, casting some uncertainty over his immediate availability. Once he returns, the Pacers will look to him as a primary scoring option off the bench, with the franchise still in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff window following its 2023–24 postseason run.