Obi Toppin, the former Knicks player, was traded to the Pacers in 2023 in exchange for two second-round picks. He has now returned to New York for his homecoming as the Pacers stole Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Knicks. New York fans are one of the most energetic fan bases in the league. We all saw how they took to the streets after defeating the reigning NBA champions during Game 6 at Madison Square Garden.
Therefore, Toppin also came under scrutiny from fans in New York as the former Knicks player helped the Pacers steal Game 1 in a 138-135 win. A video surfaced online of Toppin's heated exchange with fans. The Pacers player is visibly unhappy in the video and challenges the fan to meet him at his hotel. Fans were recorded shouting, "You s**k Obi! We got rid of you for a reason! You got lucky!"
Toppin responded, "I'm at the Ritz NoMad, pull up!"
https://x.com/barstoolsports/status/1925659805290496152
Toppin had 8 points and 10 rebounds in the Pacers' crunch-time win at Madison Square Garden. Instead of showing love to the former Knicks player, he received a lot of hate from the fans of the team that drafted him. Considering that he hit the game-winning dunk against the Knicks, who have waited 25 years before making the Eastern Conference Finals (since 1999), he naturally expected no love lost from the Knicks fans and was ready to confront them at the Pacers' hotel.
Fans React To Obi Toppin's Game-Winning Dunk In Game 1 ECF
After Anunoby turned the ball over in the final seconds of the game, the Knicks had no option but to look for a foul with 20 seconds left on the clock, down 1. Nembhard somehow found a cutting Obi Toppin for a dunk contested from behind by Mikal Bridges. While it arguably should have been a foul call, it gave the Pacers some breathing room as they went up 138-135. In the final possession, the Knicks failed to get a shot up, and the Pacers won the game.
Following Toppin's dunk, some unhappy Knicks fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their frustrations.
"How about Obi Toppin with a double-pump dagger on a perfect SLOB in MSG against the former team?" said a Knicks fan.
"We not worried about no damn Obi Toppin, KAT could probably dunk on this fool", said a frustrated Knicks fan at Toppin's response to why the Pacers won the game.
Some Pacers fans also showed support for Toppin getting his revenge on the team that drafted him and traded him for merely two second-round picks.
"Obi Toppin clutching up on the Knicks in the ECF in the Garden. That man had to be feeling just like this lmao," wrote another X user.
"Obi Toppin with one of the best playoff dunks of all time and it’s not getting talked about", wrote an X user.
It seems like Obi Toppin is at the peak of his confidence and can be the X-factor in leading the Pacers past the Knicks to their first NBA Finals since 2000.
