The Indiana Pacers are flying high in the 2024/25 NBA regular season. And this is no small part, thanks to Obi Toppin and showings for the Pacers. Despite not being s starter, Obi is one of the most important players in the squad.
Why? Well, that’s because he’s as dependable as they come. You see, Obi’s always been a late bloomer. And now, in his fifth NBA season, the world is finally seeing what he’s capable of. So today, let’s reflect upon the journey Obi took to get to this level and where his roots are.
What is Obi Toppin’s Nationality? Where is the Pacers Star From?
Let’s get it out of the way early, Obi Toppin, is a New Yorker through and through! He grew up around the city’s legendary streetball courts, Dyckman, West 4th, and Rucker Park. In those places, you either ball or get called out. “When you’re on those courts, there’s no faking it. You either ball, or you’re gonna hear about it,” Toppin once said. And in New York, that means from the crowd, the announcers, and even people watching from their windows.
Nov 27, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates a made basket in the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
But Toppin’s didn’t have the journey most hoopers did. He didn’t get any Division I scholarship offers out of high school, so he took a postgrad year at Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland. That decision changed everything. He developed his game, landed a scholarship to Dayton, and became a Naismith Award winner before being drafted in 2020.
His NBA dream came true when the New York Knicks picked him in the first round as the overall 8th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. You probably remember Game 2 of the 2021 playoffs when Mike Breen’s voice rang through MSG. “Alley-oop to Toppin!” It was a highlight in Obi’s career. Sadly, with Julius Randle in the lineup, Obi’s minutes with the Knicks were limited. Now, with the Pacers, he’s got a fresh start. And as we said before, it’s time to put the world on notice.
What is Obi Toppin’s Ethnicity?
Toppin’s background is really diverse. His mom, Roni, is of Italian and Jewish descent. On the other hand, Obadiah Sr., who Obi is actually named after, is Barbadian. Yes! Obi’s real name is Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr.!
By the way, does the name “Dunker’s Delight” sound familiar to you? Well, that’s because his father was a streetball legend in Brooklyn. And it wasn’t just dunks, he could shoot, pass, and handle the ball like a pro.
“It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out how he got his nickname,” Obi said. “My man could throw it down from anywhere. Cradle-reverse dunk? Easy. 360 windmill? Might as well be a layup. He could fly.”
Obi didn’t just watch from the sidelines. At 12, he was playing alongside his dad in streetball games. “I was nervous as hell,” he admitted. “I was this skinny kid running with legends.” Those early experiences shaped his style, and you can still see flashes of streetball in his game today.
Is Obi Toppin Religious?
Faith has been a constant in Toppin’s life. He’s a Christian and has a cross tattooed on his right shoulder as a sign of his belief. But his faith deepened during one of the toughest stretches of his career.
In high school, he was a late bloomer. “I didn’t dunk for the first time until the beginning of my senior year—and that one barely grazed the rim. Still counts!” he joked. By graduation, he wasn’t at the level needed for college ball. But he never lost faith. “I just talked to God every single day, hoping He’d lead me in the right direction.”
That belief carried him through prep school, Dayton, and into the NBA. Now, in Indiana, he’s ready for the next challenge. But if there’s one thing his journey proves, it’s that you should never count him out. “I was raised to believe in myself, trust God’s plan, and keep working,” he said. “That’s never gonna change.”
Obi’s faith and belief in his heritage have carried him a long way. From the streetballing courts in Brooklyn, all the way to the hardwood courts in the NBA. And we hope we get to witness the next stop on his journey as he plays alongside Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers!
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