Watch: Obi, Jacob Toppin Reunite in Knicks-Pacers Game

Originally posted on FanNation All Knicks
By Geoff Magliocchetti | Last updated 1/1/24

The Toppins got together for the holidays. Rather than their living room on Christmas Day, they met at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

An otherwise dreary affair for the New York Knicks, runners-up in a 140-126 loss to the hosting Indiana Pacers, at least ended on a heartwarming note: the final minute of action allowed brothers Obi and Jacob Toppin to share the floor, reuniting the pair for the first time since the latter made his NBA entry this season.

Saturday's game was partly headlined by Obi's prescience, as it was the first time the Knicks saw him since they traded the eighth overall pick of the 2020 draft to the Pacers in exchange for second-round choices. Obi commemorated the occasion with a series of photos on Instagram after the game, calling that shared half-minute of shared action the "best moment of 2023."

"Sharing an NBA game with lil bro. Crazy!!!!! [sic]" Obi said. "First college and now the pros. All glory to God!!"

Two Toppin civil wars were previously staged in college, with Obi's Dayton Flyers prevailing over Jacob, who was stationed with the University of Rhode Island at the time. Jacob later transferred to Kentucky and signed with the Knicks as an undrafted free agent over the summer.

Obi Toppin checked back in so he could have a minute against brother Jacob pic.twitter.com/SGGoMJG8jV
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 31, 2023

Jacob is one of three Knicks signed on two-way deals. A combination of a one-sided score and a shorthanded roster in the wake of a Saturday trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto afforded him entry with 1:05 remaining. Apparently recognizing the moment, Indiana reinserted Obi into the game with just over 28 seconds left, affording the brothers a chance to go one-on-one. Jacob managed to get into the box score before all was said and done, dishing off his first NBA assist on Charlie Brown Jr.'s three-pointer that closed scoring.

Obi, in the midst of his fourth NBA season, has found a prescience in the Indiana rotation denied to him in New York's, averaging 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in over 23 minutes a game. He put up nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in Saturday's win, dooming his former employers to their fourth loss in the past five games.

The Toppins get another chance to catch up on Feb. 1, when the Pacers visit Madison Square Garden. In the meantime, Jacob and the Knicks (17-15) will return to action on Monday afternoon against the Minnesota Timberwolves (3 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).

This article first appeared on FanNation All Knicks and was syndicated with permission.

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