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NY Knicks: 3 reasons why Obi Toppin should start next season

By Zachary Bachar

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 27: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on March 27, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 27: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on March 27, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley
Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/USA TODAY Sports) /

2: Chemistry with teammates

While his individual numbers look impressive as a starter, Toppin’s impact on the team as a whole is overwhelmingly positive when given extended time on the court.

In the nearly 800 minutes that Quickley and Toppin have shared the court this season, the Knicks are outscoring opponents by 10.4 points per 100 possessions. That currently ranks as the highest mark among any other two-man pairing on the team.

In Toppin’s five starts, Barrett’s averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting just over 42% from the field.

While New York has a lot of young talent, it’s become abundantly clear that the three aforementioned players represent the future of the Knicks more than anyone else. It’s a great sign that they all play well together, but they need to spend more minutes on the floor at the same time.

The Barrett/Toppin/Quickley trio has only shared the court for 252 minutes this season. While that may seem like a lot, it’s important to remember that New York’s played a total of 3,696 minutes this year. That means that the trio of the future has been on the court for just 6.8% of the time.

A full season of those three getting lots of minutes together wouldn’t likely lead the team back to the fourth seed in the East, but the basketball product would be much more fun for fans to watch and lead to a higher win total than most would suspect.

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