New York Knicks: Comparing Obi Toppin’s ceiling to other NBA Players

The New York Knicks have been the surprise of the first half of the 2021 NBA season. The franchise entered the All-Star break with a dazzling 19-18 record, good for the fifth seed in the eastern conference. They are currently on pace to earn their first playoff appearance since the Carmelo Anthony-era of 2012-2013.

The emergence of newly anointed All-Star Julius Randle and the rest of New York’s young cast have propelled the team toward postseason contention. Surprisingly, rookie Immanuel Quickley (selected with the 25th overall pick) has surpassed Collegiate Player of the Year Obi Toppin (taken 8th overall) as the Knicks’ most impressive rookie.

Just a few short months ago, Toppin was a pre-season candidate for Rookie of the Year honors while Quickley was a dark horse with an unknown floor and ceiling. Fast forward just a few short months and these roles have switched.

However, despite a series of early-career struggles, Toppin is still poised to develop into a valuable NBA player. Plenty of rookies have taken time to overcome the NBA learning curve.

Throw in an early leg injury and a series of un-traditional COVID protocols, and it becomes clear that Toppin has faced an unusual number of hurdles. His combination of athleticism and ability to finish above the rim has already led to several highlight plays.

All of this backdrop begs one important question: What can New York expect from Toppin moving forward? Here are three NBA player comparisions that show what he would look like as a role player, a starter, and an All-Star.