There were a handful of hectic dunks for Knicks striker Obi Toppin in his debut season. But there weren’t many offenses or minutes to choose the 2020 lottery.
The Brooklyn product said it was still realizing the jump from Dayton to the NBA and hoped to reveal “new things” to stimulate its adjustment.
The highlight of Dayton Dunk’s debut season may come to Atlanta if he is invited to the Slam Dunk Contest at the newly organized All-Star event.
A wide smile erupted on Toppin’s face at the possibility – a potential indicator he has in his intelligence of having a legitimate chance at an invitation.
“The Dunk Contest, I think we’ll have to wait and see,” said a smiling Toppin. “I don’t want to give you all the answers, but I hope to be there. Maybe not. So we’ll have to wait and see. ”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau rides emerging star Julius Randle for nearly 40 minutes per game, limiting Toppin’s playing time to just 12 minutes.
Defending Toppin’s team needs work and he wasn’t physical enough inside to create his own shot. Too often, the forces establish choices and lose in the perimeter, where he was not known as an elite 3-point shooter.
“I feel like I’m still trying to find my offense, the strengths on the offensive side,” Toppin said. “I feel that everyone is helping me, my coaches and my colleagues. All those guys help me try to figure out what I’m good at. ”
“I’m still trying to find my offensive place, playing for the first time in the NBA. I try to find out what I am very good at this level. I’ll start trying new things. ”
Asked what the differences were between Dayton and the NBA, Toppin said: “The difference between college and now – I feel like physicality, the speed of the game, these two things are the main things I have to adapt to. I learn every day and I feel better. ”
The absence of the summer league was a major loss for Toppin, who did not play in an elite program like Immanuel Quickley in Kentucky. The GM NBA still predicts that Toppin, at 22, will compete for Rookie of the Year, voting for the third most likely candidate.
An NBA source connected to the Knicks said of Toppin’s awkward situation: “Some of the things he does in college don’t work. That’s all he knows now. He failed to adjust to the NBA because he is different from college. Learn. He knows it’s a trial. He knows he is a beginner and has a lot to learn. He is prepared for this and is also patient. Give him time, he will come. ”
In 13 games, Toppin has an average of 4.6 points. 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He also missed 10 games with a calf stalk.
Thibodeau said he needs to improve his team’s defense and feels that the absence of the summer league really hurts the college player of the year.
“All beginners, this is the challenge,” Thibodeau said. “You have a skill set from the players in the league that is different from college. The tape is different, the rules are different. They need to know the system they are in. He needs to know the players in the league and the system they are facing. There are a lot of good things he does every day. But for the first time, it’s a challenge for every beginner. The second time will be better, the third time better after that. Makes good and steady progress. ”
On Saturday, the 6-meter Toppin will face a childhood idol – Brooklynit colleague Carmelo Anthony – while the Knicks host the Trail Blazers. He hopes to finally master Anthony’s inner movements.
“I’ve definitely been following him all my life,” Toppin said. “He is an amazing player. He has a very strong position. It has a very good touch. Seeing the different movements he has in the post, the fakes, I will try to learn from [him]. “