Obi Toppin to enter the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk contest

Obi Toppin, whose father is a former Brooklyn streetballer dubbed “Dunkers Delight,” will compete in the 2020-21 NBA Slam Dunk contest, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, giving the Knicks another rep at All-Star Weekend alongside Julius Randle.

Toppin had previously teased that he might enter the contest, but everyone knows nothing is official until he is tweeted by Shams or Woj.

Eighth pick in this year’s draft, Toppin mostly worked off the bench behind Randle, playing just 12 minutes a night after missing the first 10 games of the season with injury. He’s yet to show off the full offensive arsenal he was given in the draft, but there’s one thing Toppin has definitely done. It is display the ability to dunk.

He’s got your standard flaming dunk covered.

He’s tapped that basic dunk where you reach higher than humanly seems possible.

And of course, like most of us, he can slam it at home after catching a pass to the side of the backboard and putting the ball between his legs in the air.

Truth be told, Toppin is and always has been a dedicated dunker, dating back to his college days.

In fact, Toppin remembers his first dunk. He had wanted to soak his whole life, and finally threw one out the summer before his senior year of high school, according to this profile from the Bleacher Report rookie.

“It was pure relief,” Toppin said. “And then it was excitement. It had taken so long. That’s why I always dunk whenever I can now. I just started diving for real three or four years ago. It’s still new to me. It’s always an amazing feeling every time.

Apparently, this will be the eighth time the Knicks have had someone in both the dunk contest and the All-Star game, which is pretty cool.

None of the other entrants to this year’s dunk contest have been named yet. This year’s contest is at halftime of the All-Star Game because of, you know, the pandemic. It’s nice to have Toppin representing the team, as the last two Knicks to participate (Dennis Smith Jr. and James White) haven’t necessarily made the franchise fantastic.

Toppin turns 23 a few days before All-Star Weekend; What better way to celebrate than by asserting your dominance as a top dunker? He certainly hopes to do just that. We hope he will too.