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Missing Obi is a big thing’: Knicks star RJ Barrett mourns loss of Toppin after he suffered a broken leg in win over Hawks: ‘He’s a ball of energy, man, when he’s there outside, we played much better’
Obi Toppin was ruled out for two or three weeks by the Knicks on Thursday, and his absence is considered a significant blow by his teammates.
Toppin, in his junior year, is averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per night as a backup forward.
He’s also shooting a career-best 35.1 percent from 3.
Obi Toppin is set for a 14-21 day sideline period following a right leg injury.
But Toppin suffered a nondisplaced fracture of the head of his right fibula against the Hawks on Wednesday, and will now be sidelined until later in the month judging by the Knicks’ schedule.
“Missing Obi is a big thing,” RJ Barrett said Friday. ‘He’s a ball of energy, man, going out there. When he’s out, we just play faster. We played much better.
“That’s a guy, his energy and spirit, you always know he’s going to have a smile on his face,” Barrett said. ‘He will bring positive energy. So that’s going to be missed for sure.
“Definitely a big miss,” added Immanuel Quickley.
RJ Barrett has struggled this season and will now be without Obi Toppin for at least two weeks.
Toppin has averaged 17.1 minutes a night this season for a Knicks team that is 12-13 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
Toppin’s absence could mean extended minutes for Cam Reddish, who was recently removed from the rotation and found himself the subject of trade speculation.
The Knicks could also opt to play small and use RJ Barrett at power forward amid their shooting woes.
The fourth-year pro is shooting just 40.3 percent from the field and 28.5 percent from three despite averaging 18.2 points per game.