If you are a fan of basketball, you may have heard of Obi Toppin, the power forward for the Indiana Pacers who won the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. But did you know that he has a younger brother who also plays in the NBA? His name is Jacob Toppin, and he is a small forward for the New York Knicks. In this article, we will explore the relationship between the two brothers, their basketball journey, and their future prospects.
The Toppin Family
Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr., better known as Obi, was born on March 4, 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Obadiah Sr., was a streetball legend who went by the nickname “Dunkers Delight”. His mother, Roni, was a daycare provider and a basketball fan. Obi has three siblings: two older sisters, Monet and Semaj, and a younger brother, Jacob
Jacob Toppin was born on May 8, 2000 in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up idolizing his older brother and wanted to follow in his footsteps. He also inherited his father’s athleticism and passion for the game. Jacob played basketball, football, and volleyball in high school, and also grew four inches to 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) in his postgraduate year
The College Years
Obi Toppin did not receive much attention from college recruiters until his senior year of high school, when he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds per game at Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland. He committed to play for the University of Dayton in Ohio, where he redshirted his first year due to academic issues. He then became one of the best players in the country in his next two seasons, leading the Flyers to a 29-2 record and a No. 3 ranking in the 2019-20 season. He averaged 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 63.3% from the field and 39% from three-point range. He won several national player of the year awards, including the Naismith Trophy, the Wooden Award, and the Associated Press Player of the Year. He also won the Karl Malone Award as the best power forward in college basketball, and was a consensus first-team All-American
Jacob Toppin started his college career at Rhode Island University, where he played as a freshman in the 2019-20 season. He averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench, and showed flashes of potential with his athleticism and versatility. He then transferred to Kentucky University, where he played as a sophomore in the 2020-21 season. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in a limited role, as Kentucky struggled to a 9-16 record amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He decided to return for his junior year in the 2021-22 season, where he improved his numbers to 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He declared for the NBA draft after his senior year in the 2022-23 season, forgoing an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic
The NBA Dreams
Obi Toppin entered the 2020 NBA draft as one of the most hyped prospects in his class. He was projected to be a top-five pick by many analysts, but he fell to the eighth pick, where he was selected by his hometown team, the New York Knicks. He had a slow start to his rookie season, as he missed time due to injury and had to compete for minutes with Julius Randle, who had a breakout year as an All-Star. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 11 minutes per game off the bench for the Knicks, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2013. He also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend, where he finished as a runner-up to Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers.
In his second season with the Knicks in 2021-22, Toppin improved his production to 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 15 minutes per game off the bench. He also won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend with an impressive display of aerial acrobatics that included passing to himself off the backboard and dunking over his father and Julius Randle.
In July 2023, Toppin was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson in exchange for Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. The Pacers hoped that Toppin would form a dynamic duo with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was also acquired in a separate trade from the Sacramento Kings. Toppin expressed his excitement about joining the Pacers and playing with Haliburton, whom he befriended during the Dizzy Runs, a local pro-am league in Indiana
Jacob Toppin went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, but he signed a contract with the New York Knicks on July 6, 2023. He joined the team that his brother had just left, and hoped to make an impact with his energy and defense. He also looked forward to playing against his brother in the NBA, and said that they have a friendly rivalry
The Future Outlook
Obi Toppin and Jacob Toppin are both young and talented players who have a bright future in the NBA. They have overcome many challenges and obstacles to reach their dreams, and they have inspired many fans with their story. They are also very close and supportive of each other, and they share a bond that goes beyond basketball. They are proud to be brothers, and they are proud to represent their family name
