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3 areas Obi Toppin must improve in for a breakout 2022-23 Knicks season

By Jake Brown

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 02: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks goes to the hoop during the second quarter and draws a foul against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on April 02, 2022 in New York City. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 02: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks goes to the hoop during the second quarter and draws a foul against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on April 02, 2022 in New York City. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Obi Toppin
Obi Toppin, New York Knicks. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Improvement #3: His rebounding

Coming out of college, Toppin wasn’t regarded as the best rebounder, as it was known among NBA scouts that his rebounding was an issue and that he’d need some development in that area. Here’s what NBADraft.net had to say about his rebounding ahead of the 2020 Draft:

"Given his leaping skills and length, as well as the size advantage he enjoys in most matchups with A-10 big men, Toppin is an average overall rebounder at best…Perhaps his rebounding can improve with focus on core strength, and work on fundamentals."

Fast forward to now, and these statements remain true. Toppin is still an unproven rebounder in the league thus far, averaging a mere 7.8 rebounds for his position per 36 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference.

And given his high motor and leaping ability, you’d think that rebounding would be an area in which Toppin would excel. That unfortunately is not the case.

In all honesty, he hasn’t received enough minutes to truly display his capabilities in bringing down boards. But from a numbers standpoint, they have not been promising thus far.

Toppin needs to take a page out of fellow Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson’s book this offseason. Robinson was one of the more active players on the glass this past year, bringing down 8.6 rebounds in just 25.7 minutes, which totals to 8 more minutes than the former A-10 star.

Robinson’s relentlessness on both the defensive and offensive glass should be an indicator for Toppin to improve in that aspect for next season, especially with Robinson potentially heading into free agency.

In the long run, consistency is what will make or break Toppin’s season in 2022-23. Even in limited minutes over the last two years, he’s been too inconsistent to deserve more minutes under Thibodeau’s helm.

But with Toppin showing some flashes of potential towards the end of 2021-22, there is still much to be excited about going forward with him. The offseason work will be the tell-all for him, with the potential for the roster to be shaken up heading into next year.

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