New York Knicks youngster Obi Toppin is displaying flashes of stardom in the limited amount of minutes he has played this season. The Dayton product is currently averaging 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.8 blocks per night, where he roughly plays around 15 minutes. Yet his per-36 minute averages showcase just how elite he can be, if given the playing time, per Tommy Beer of Forbes:
Obi Toppin's per-36 minute averages this season:
18.9 points,
8.5 rebounds,
2.5 assists
2.0 blocksObi is one of only three players in the NBA averaging more than 18 points, 8 boards, 2 dimes and 2+ blocks per game.
The other two are:
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 25, 2021
Being named in the company of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis is special. The two are amongst the best in terms of power forwards, if not the entire league. Yet with Julius Randle as the Knicks' leader and starting power forward, eye-popping statistics for Toppin could be hard to come by, as most of the minutes would be given to the former Wildcat.
Toppin instead needs to continuously show improvement from his rookie season. By staying healthy and contributing to the Knicks' bench, the 23 year old could have a bright future in the league. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged just 6.8 points in his rookie season when playing 25 minutes a night. However, the Greek Freak was able to exhibit his improvements each season. When given the chance to play heavy minutes, Antetokounmpo took over the entire league.
While Knicks power forward Obi Toppin may not have the same trajectory as Giannis, the second year big man could definitely be a huge part of the Knicks. With deep bench depth necessary for a strong playoff run, the Knicks could rely on Toppin's skills when needed. He will just need to be ready for the big moments.
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