The New York Knicks have signed forward Obi Toppin, the team’s first-round 2020 NBA Draft selection, to his rookie contract.
Toppin, 22, was selected on November 18 by the Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Dayton. At college, the 6-9, 220-pound forward averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.23 blocks over 31.6 minutes in 31 games during his sophomore season en route to consensus All-America First Team honors and the 2019-20 Naismith Trophy, awarded to the National Player of the Year. Toppin was the first consensus All-American in Dayton’s history.
The Brooklyn, New York-native was the only player in the nation to average 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and shoot over 60% from the field. He had the best field goal percentage in the last five years of any Division I player who averaged at least 20.0 points per game. The 2019-20 John R. Wooden Award winner helped lead the University of Dayton to 29-wins in the regular season, the most in school history.
