Obi Toppin’s first obscenity contest was as a senior at Ossining High, facing three other Section 1 high school seniors (Westchester schools).
“He took off from inside the foul line and flew like MJ to win the competition,” Ossining coach Michael Casey told The Post. “Most of the others tried to complete their dunks. But, no, I didn’t think Obi would compete in the NBA dunk after that. ”
It will be a particularly proud time for the Toppin family, when Knicks’ lottery selector – a late-season starter who hasn’t even started full-time his junior year at Ossining – competes in Sunday’s Slam-Dunk contest. The event will take place at the All-Star Game break in Atlanta.
Basketball idol no. 1 of Toppin who grew up was not Michael Jordan, but his father, Obadiah, a streetball legend nicknamed “Dunkers Delight.”
Obadiah participated in the old Andball Street tour and was once part of a 2006 commercial with Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade and Ben Wallace.
“I talked to him about some of the dunks,” Toppin said. “He’s basically telling me which of them will look crazy for that time.”
Toppin said that his father, who also played abroad, is his inspiration no. 1 in the dunk department.
“I grew up following him,” Toppin said. “Every team he played was called – Dunkers Delight, so he speaks for himself.”
Contacted by The Post, Obadiah said he intended to be in Atlanta.
“I am very excited and anxious,” Obadiah told The Post. “I know he’ll do what he does.”
Some dungeon mavens believe one of Toppin’s dunks will be a variation of a leg slam he played at Dayton last season. Toppin said after the game that it was a headache his father perfected on the grounds of Rucker and Dyckman parks.
Toppin, who turned 23 earlier this week, will be in Atlanta with one of his Knicks teammates, All-Star Julius Randle. In the pandemic format, the players were told to arrive on Saturday night, so it wouldn’t be long before Toppin used Randle as support.
Toppin likes diving that includes jumping over obstacles and referred to Aaron Gordon’s art performance last season, when he jumped over the 7-meter Tacko Fall.
Asked if Randle 6-9, his power-forward mentor, would provide assistance during the break contest, Toppin did not rule it out.
“I don’t know how to answer – I might go to Julius, I might not,” Toppin said.
Toppin will go against former Guardian Duke Cassius Stanley, a second-round pick who played in the G-League for the Pacers, and Portland goalkeeper Anfernee Simons. They will donate their $ 100,000 earnings to historically black colleagues. Toppin is going crazy for York College.
“It’s definitely crazy for me and it’s crazy because I just texted Cassius the other day,” Toppin said. “It simply came to our notice then. We are in our first year in the NBA and we end up competing in this dunk contest. So having this opportunity is a blessing. ”
Casey, Toppin’s high school coach, said his former player may not be the favorite as a big man fighting guards who are usually more visually appealing flying through the air.
“He’s going to have to get creative,” Casey said.
Toppin is the sixth Knicks player to compete in the dunk competition – the last to win it was goalkeeper Nate Robinson, who won it three times. Kenny “Sky” Walker won as Knick in 1989.
“I’ve been watching a lot of dunks in the last two days,” Toppin said. “I will try to do things that have not yet been in the dunk contest. I saw a lot of great dunks. I may have to break out one of the old dunks someone did. I’m definitely getting ready for the future. ”
The only dunk man Toppin is happy that he will not face the Bulls guard, Zach LaVine, who makes his first All-Star appearance on Sunday. Toppin feared that LaVine, the 2016 winner, would be on display because it would be in Atlanta anyway.
“I’m glad Zach isn’t there,” Toppin said. “I will put this there. I’m glad he’s not there, because he’s great. I definitely like to compete. Even if it had been in him, I would have had a wonderful time and we would have put on a show for everyone. There are three amazing dunkers, Cassius and I and Anfernee. So all three of us feel like we’re going to put on a show for everyone. ”