Obi Toppin

On May 11, 1980, a highflying legend affectionately known as “The Doctor” drove baseline, propelling his team one step closer to the NBA championship through an acrobatic, around-the-rim layup that remains both discussed and replayed to this very day. Something of an aerial artist himself, Obi Toppin paid unintentional tribute through an almost-mirrored image layup exactly 45 years later. Channeling first infielder-like skills by tracking a basketball from the skies, Toppin works ambitiously, countering Darius Garland’s closeout with a decisive sideline attack. Floating under the rim, as if deciding from a thousand moves, Toppin blends concentration and athleticism, gliding past the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense for a whirling finish. Such plays defined the Indiana Pacers’ memorable evening on May 11, 2025, as they pushed the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed to the brink of elimination. Cementing his name through Indy’s franchise history books with elite second-unit scoring Toppin contributed 20 points (on 9-of-14 shooting), five rebounds, two assists, and a 3-pointer.