Obi Toppin to Undergo Surgery

Obi Toppin is set to be out of action for a while. The Pacers forward will undergo surgery to replace a screw in his right foot, with head coach Rick Carlisle announcing he will be sidelined until at least February.

This news comes after the former Knicks first-round pick left Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves, initially reported as a hamstring injury, before the foot issue surfaced.

In the couple of games he played before getting hurt, Toppin was really stepping up. He averaged 16.5 points and seven rebounds on about 15 field goal attempts per game. It seemed like he was starting to play a bigger role for the Pacers, especially considering their recent injury woes.

This injury is quite a setback for a team that, just a few months ago, was so close to winning an NBA title. They were one win away, which feels like a lifetime ago now.

To make matters worse, the Pacers are already missing star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the entire season as he recovers from surgery on his right Achilles tendon. Additionally, Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell, and Benedict Mathurin are all dealing with various injuries.

It’s tough for the Pacers right now, especially as they also cope with the loss of center Myles Turner, who left for the Bucks in free agency last offseason. The Pacers have started the season 0-4, which ties their worst start in franchise history.

Toppin has had an interesting career arc, having spent three seasons with the Knicks after being picked eighth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Pacers in summer 2023 for a first-round pick. Last July, he signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Pacers, right before becoming a free agent. After a bumpy start in New York, he really found his footing with the Pacers, averaging 10.5 points and shooting nearly 53% last season in just under 20 minutes per game.