Two Second-Round Picks? Obi Toppin Is Writing His Own Playoff Legacy in Indiana

It’s often said that playoff basketball reveals a player’s true character, separating the flash-in-the-pan from the flame that burns under pressure. For Obi Toppin, that crucible has become his proving ground—and he’s torching every ounce of doubt that once shadowed his name. The 2025 NBA Playoffs have seen stars falter and heroes rise, but among the most surprising and impactful is a 6’9” forward Indiana acquired for the mere price of two second-round picks. Yes, two second-rounders.

And yet here we are, talking about Obi Toppin as a genuine postseason X-factor for a Finals-bound Indiana Pacers team that just stole Game 1 in dramatic fashion from the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111–110. No one would’ve scripted it this way. But maybe we should’ve.

Game 1 Heroics: From Afterthought to Game-Changer

Let’s start at the moment that stunned the NBA world. Down 15 in the fourth quarter. Still trailing by 9 with under three minutes to play. And then—madness. Tyrese Haliburton capped off the miracle comeback with a cold-blooded mid-range dagger with 0.3 seconds left, but this wasn’t a solo act. Before Haliburton's game-winner, there was a relentless effort from an ensemble cast—Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, and, perhaps most critically, Toppin.

Off the bench, Toppin logged 25 minutes and filled the stat sheet with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a blistering 5-of-8 from deep. He added 5 rebounds and 2 assists and posted a +13 plus-minus, tied for team-high with Nesmith. He scored in every quarter and drilled two crucial threes in the fourth that sliced the deficit to single digits and gave Indiana life when the game appeared lost.

His five threes made him just the second Pacer in franchise history to hit 5+ threes in a Finals game, joining none other than Reggie Miller. That’s not just trivia—that’s legacy territory.

Not Just One Game—This Is a Pattern

If you’re thinking this is some random breakout, think again. Toppin has carved a consistent lane for himself in these playoffs. In fact, this is becoming a habit.

• In the second-round Game 4 win over Cleveland, Toppin erupted for 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting in just under 21 minutes.

• In the East Finals opener against the Knicks, he posted 8 points and 10 boards, with 4 points and a clutch steal coming in overtime’s final minute.

• In East Finals Game 4, he only scored 5 points, but one of those buckets was a cold-blooded dagger three with under a minute to play.

• In Game 6 to seal the East, Toppin was once again a high-efficiency sniper, scoring 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three, while also swatting three shots.

Across 17 playoff games this year, Toppin is averaging 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 17.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting 51.7% from the field and 34% from deep, with a rock-solid true shooting percentage of 61.6%. These aren’t empty-calorie numbers—they are the kind that tilt playoff outcomes.

Go back a year and the trend holds. In 2024, he posted 10.9 points per game on 54.1% shooting and 35.7% from three, with a 63.4% true shooting clip. The dude is consistent. And he’s consistently better when the lights shine brightest.

The Knicks Gave Up on Him. Twice.

What makes this all the more dramatic is the backstory.

Obi Toppin, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 Draft—selected ahead of Haliburton—arrived in New York as an elite athlete and a highlight-reel waiting to happen. He even took home the Slam Dunk title in 2022. But under Tom Thibodeau, he never earned trust or meaningful minutes. Buried behind Julius Randle, friction reportedly mounted between player and coach. The writing was on the wall.

Then came the trade: Indiana acquired Toppin for two second-round picks. That’s not even a gamble—it’s a clearance sale.

Now, two years later, Toppin has helped knock the Knicks out of the playoffs twice. In the 2024 semifinals, he averaged 10.5 points against New York on an absurd 58.6% shooting. In 2025’s East Finals, he averaged 9.0 points and came through in multiple game-deciding sequences. It's not just payback. It’s poetic justice.

What Makes Toppin So Valuable?

Let’s break it down. Toppin’s value in Indiana isn’t just about scoring—it’s about timing, spacing, and impact.

He’s the type of player who doesn’t need the ball to make a difference. His transition finishing is elite. His cutting is timely. He’s become a reliable catch-and-shoot three-point threat—especially from the corners and on wide-open looks. According to playoff tracking data, Toppin is shooting 40% on wide-open threes (30/12), meaning you leave him alone at your own risk.

Defensively, while he may not be an All-NBA stopper, he’s active. He crashes the glass, rotates hard, and even blocks shots—like his 3-swat performance in East Finals Game 6. He’s also staying out of foul trouble and making winning plays. That’s the glue guy you want deep in the playoffs.

The Pacers' Identity: Everyone Eats

Haliburton is the maestro. Siakam brings the championship pedigree. Nembhard, Nesmith, and McConnell bring hustle and IQ. But the soul of these Pacers is their depth—anyone can be the guy on any night.

Game 1 against the Thunder is the perfect encapsulation: no one scored 20+, but six players scored in double figures. And among them, the name "Obi Toppin" continues to pop up when it matters most.

This is a team where effort is currency and execution is king. And Toppin, with his efficient shooting and unwavering energy, embodies everything Rick Carlisle preaches.

Toppin vs. Expectations: Rewriting the Narrative

For a former lottery pick labeled a dunk contest champion and little else, Toppin is finally becoming the player many believed he could be. He’s not the second coming of Amar’e Stoudemire, and he doesn’t need to be. What he is right now is a high-impact role player with a knack for big moments—and that’s worth its weight in gold during June basketball.

The irony is thick: the player New York couldn’t make work is now a Finals piece in Indiana. The guy drafted ahead of Haliburton is now playing his best basketball alongside him. The man who was traded for two second-rounders is now producing at a level that has GMs across the league shaking their heads.

And if the Pacers do the unthinkable—win the title—those two second-round picks will go down as one of the greatest heists in recent NBA memory.

One Last Word

Obi Toppin isn’t a star. But he is something rarer in the playoffs: reliable, opportunistic, and fearless. In a league where teams mortgage futures for hope, Indiana made a bet that cost them next to nothing—and they’re cashing in big time.

From forgotten forward to vital playoff piece, Toppin’s story is more than redemption. It’s revelation.