Knicks forward Obi Toppin. Mandatory Credit: John Minchillo/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
Knicks forward Obi Toppin had a memorable reaction when a foul during a dunk attempt threw him hard onto the court. He knocked out a couple of push-ups.
There are a lot of ways to respond when you get fouled on an NBA court, especially when an opponent puts you on the ground.
You can pop up as quickly as possible to prove you’re not hurt. You can make a show of what the defender did to you. Or if you’re Obi Toppin of the Knicks, you can get in a few push-ups.
That’s a man who enjoys what he does for a living. What a way to make an impression.
Obi Toppin brought some entertainment value to a hard foul
Toppin was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Dayton. He’s played in 22 games for the Knicks, averaging 4.9 points and 2.4 rebounds off the bench.
He played 17 minutes in the Knicks 140-121 rout of the Kings with three points, three rebounds and a steal. He only made one of the free throws that followed the push-ups though.
Fortunately, the push-ups weren’t his only highlight of the outing. He also put down an emphatic fastbreak dunk.
His game still needs improvement, but there is hope from some that he will be able to carve out more of a role for himself as the season unfolds. At the moment, he is stuck firmly behind Julius Randle in the pecking order, but that could change if head coach Tom Thibodeau decides to pair the two on the court.
New York improved to 16-17 on the season with the win but they’re still fourth in the Atlantic. Even if they’re not a factor in the divisional race, they do hold a spot in the playoffs at the moment They’re 6-4 in their last 10 games.