Obi Toppin is staying in Indianapolis.
A year after being traded from the Knicks, the forward re-signed with the Pacers on a four-year, $60 million contract just before NBA free agency. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news Sunday afternoon..
The 26-year-old, selected by the Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Dayton, made waves with his high-flying dunks during his three years at the Gardens but played limited minutes behind Julius Randle.
While he still primarily comes off the bench with the Pacers, he has taken on a larger role in 21 minutes per game and is averaging career highs in 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, field goal percentage (57.3%) and 3-point shooting percentage (40.3%).
He averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in the Pacers’ seven-game second-round win over the Knicks.
In a postseason that ended with a thorough loss to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the conference finals, Toppin averaged 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and shot 54.1 percent from the field.
News of Toppin’s deal came two days after guard Immanuel Quickley, the Knicks’ 25th pick in the first round in 2020, agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract extension with the Raptors.
The Knicks traded Quickley and 2019 first-round draft pick RJ Barrett to Toronto in December as part of the trade that brought OG Anunoby to New York.
Anunoby and the Knicks agreed to a five-year, $212.5 million contract extension on Wednesday, the largest contract in franchise history.
