Obi Toppin concluded his sixth NBA season with a strong performance, scoring 21 points and making 7 of 11 three-pointers in a loss to the Detroit Pistons. After recovering from foot surgery, he played in 21 of the last 23 games of the season.
Apr. 14—Obi Toppin's sixth season in the NBA and third season with the Indiana Pacers ended with one of the best shooting performances of his career.
The former Dayton Flyers forward made 7 of 11 3-pointers Sunday, April 12, in a 133-121 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Toppin scored 21 points, two games after scoring a season-high 26. He finished the season on a positive note after missing most of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a partial stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
Toppin played in the first three games of the season but didn't return to game action until Feb. 26. He then appeared in 21 of the last 23 games.
"It was a challenge," Toppin said, "but I've got great people around me who encouraged me every single day to get back, and we've got a great medical staff who helped me achieve that goal of coming back before the season ended. I'm glad I was able to do that."
One season after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Pacers finished with the second-worst record in the NBA and the worst record in franchise history (19-63).
Toppin was limited to 24 games. Tyrese Haliburton missed the entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 7 last summer.
The players stayed close, Toppin said, despite the difficulties on the court.
"Everybody in this locker room loves each other," he said, "and we want to see each other succeed. Talking to each other, especially through the tough times we had this whole season with the injuries and everything, we just had to keep a level head and understand where we're working for something greater."
In limited playing time this season, Toppin averaged 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds — both career highs.
The Pacers hope the return of Haliburton and a full season from Toppin help them get back to the top of the standings in the 2026-27 season.
"We didn't have the greatest year this year," Toppin said, "but we've got great vets and great guys around us, like Pascal (Siakam) and Tyrese. We know it's not going to be a walk in the park next year just because we're getting everybody back, but we go into this offseason knowing that we're trying to get back on course with what we started three or four years ago. We want to get back on that train, and we feel like we can do that starting next season. It's going to be a big offseason for us."
In his final game, Obi Toppin scored 21 points and made 7 of 11 three-pointers.
Obi Toppin underwent surgery for a partial stress fracture in his right foot and returned to play on February 26 after missing most of the season.
Obi Toppin faced the challenge of recovering from surgery and initially played only three games before returning to action in late February.
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