Obi Toppin’s first dunk competition was as a senior at Ossining High, facing three other Section 1 high school students (Westchester schools).
“He took off from inside the foul line and flew like MJ to win the game,” Ossining coach Michael Casey told The Post. “Most of the others struggled to finish their dunks. But no, I didn’t expect that. Obi would then compete in the NBA dunk competition. ”
It will be a particularly proud moment for the Toppin family when the Knicks’ rookie lottery pick – a late bloomer who wasn’t even a full-time starter in his junior year at Ossining – enters Sunday’s Slam-Dunk contest. The event takes place during halftime of the All-Star Game in Atlanta.
Toppin’s No. 1 basketball idol growing up was not Michael Jordan, but his father, Obadiah, a streetball legend whose nickname was ‘Dunkers Delight’.
Obadiah took part in the old And1 Streetball tour and was once part of a 2006 Gatorade commercial starring Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade and Ben Wallace.
“I talked to him about some dunks,” Toppin said. “He’s basically telling me which ones will look crazy before then.”
Toppin said his father, who also played abroad, is his biggest source of inspiration when it comes to dunk.
“I grew up watching him,” said Toppin. “Every team he played in was – his name was Dunkers Delight, so that goes without saying.”
Obadiah, contacted by The Post, said he intended to be in Atlanta.
“I’m very excited and anxious,” Obadiah told The Post. “I know he’s going to do what he’s doing.”
Some dunk-contest mavens believe that one of Toppin’s dunks Sunday will be a variation on an between-the-legs fastbreak slam he performed at Dayton last season. Toppin said it was a post-game dunk that his father perfected on the Rucker and Dyckman’s parks runways.
Toppin, who turned 23 earlier this week, will be in Atlanta with one of his Knicks teammates, All-Star Julius Randle. In the pandemic format, players were told to arrive Saturday night, so there wouldn’t be much practice time for Toppin to use Randle as a prop.
Toppin loves prop dunks, which includes jumping over obstacles, and was referring to the Aaron Gordon performance of art last season when he jumped the 6-foot Tacko Fall.
Asked if the 6-9 Randle, his power-forward mentor, will provide an assist during halftime, Toppin didn’t rule it out.
“I don’t know how to answer – maybe I’ll go to Julius, maybe not,” Toppin said.
Toppin will face former Duke guard Cassius Stanley, a second-round pick who played in the G-League for the Pacers, and Portland guard Anfernee Simons. They will donate their $ 100,000 winnings to historically black colleges. Toppin thinks for York College.
“It’s absolutely crazy to me, and it’s crazy because I was texting Cassius the other day,” Toppin said. “We both said how unreal it is. We’re in our freshman year in the NBA and we’re allowed to take part in this dunk competition, so it is a blessing to have this opportunity. ”
Casey, Toppin’s high school coach, said his former player may not be the favorite as a big man taking on guards who are usually more visually appealing to fly through the air.
“He’s going to have to get creative,” Casey said.
Toppin is the sixth Knicks player to enter the dunk contest – the last to win it was 6-foot guard Nate Robinson, who won it three times. Kenny “Sky” Walker won as Knick in 1989.
“I’ve watched a lot of dunks in the last few days,” Toppin said. ‘I’m going to try things that haven’t been in the dunk competition yet. I’ve seen many great dunks. I may have to break out one of the old dunks someone did. I am certainly preparing for the coming period. ”
The only dunkman that Toppin is happy about not heading Sunday is Bulls security guard Zach LaVine, who is making his first All-Star appearance. Toppin feared that 2016 winner LaVine would be tabbed for being in Atlanta anyway.
“I’m glad Zach isn’t here,” Toppin said. ‘I’m going to bring that out. I’m glad he’s not here because he’s a great dunker. Absolutely, I love to compete. Even if he was in it, I would have had a great time and we would have put on a show for everyone. There are three great dunkers, Cassius and I and Anfernee. So all three of us feel like we’re going to put on a show for everyone. ”