He did it. He finally did it. After getting essentially "robbed" by a rim-kissing Anfernee Simons in 2021, Obi Toppin walked into the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland with a massive chip on his shoulder. Most people remember that night as a bit of a disaster—a "gaffe-filled" mess, as some critics called it—but if you focus only on the missed dunks from the other guys, you're missing the absolute clinic Toppin put on.
The Knicks forward wasn't just jumping high. He was rewriting the geometry of the dunk.
Honestly, we don't talk enough about the pressure of being a "dunk specialist" in the modern NBA. Fans are bored. They've seen everything. They’ve seen guys jump over cars, mascots, and even 7-footers. Toppin didn't care about the gimmicks. He brought a raw, powerful creativity that felt like a throwback to the playground legends—which makes sense, given his dad was the legendary streetballer "Dunker’s Delight."
The 2022 NBA Dunk Contest: Redemption in Cleveland
Let’s be real for a second: the 2022 contest was rough. Cole Anthony was out there lacing up Timberland boots (which took forever). Jalen Green was struggling with a phone on a gold chain showing an NFT. Juan Toscano-Anderson was solid, but couldn't quite close the gap. Amidst all that chaos, Obi Toppin stayed locked in.
He didn't just win because the others missed; he won because his floor was higher than everyone else's ceiling.
The Dunk That Sealed the Deal
In the final round against JTA, Toppin needed something to shut the door. He went with a between-the-legs dunk, but with a twist—he tapped the ball off the backboard mid-air before flushing it.
The judges gave him a 47.
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It wasn't a perfect 50, but in a night where the energy was getting sucked out of the building by repeated misses, it was a thunderbolt. He finished the final round with a total score of 92, absolutely crushing JTA’s 69.
People forget how technical that tap was. If you watch the replay, the timing required to hit the glass and still have the momentum to finish the between-the-legs motion is insane. Most humans can't even touch the backboard. Obi was playing with it like it was a prop in a choreographed dance.
Why 2021 Still Stings for Knicks Fans
You can't talk about Obi Toppin's dunk contest victory without talking about the heartbreak in Atlanta.
The 2021 contest was weird because of the pandemic. It was held at halftime of the All-Star Game. No crowd. Just a few benches of millionaires watching. Toppin pulled off a between-the-legs dunk over his dad and Julius Randle that should have won it all. Instead, Anfernee Simons won by "kissing" the rim—except he didn't actually kiss it. He just got really close.
The judges went with the "vibe" over the "difficulty," and Toppin was relegated to runner-up.
- 2021 Result: Runner-up (Lost to Anfernee Simons)
- 2022 Result: Champion (Defeated Juan Toscano-Anderson)
That 2021 loss is exactly why 2022 felt so personal. Toppin told reporters after the win that he "had to come back with my revenge." He wasn't joking. You could see it in his face. He wasn't there to smile and take pictures; he was there to take the trophy back to New York.
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The "Dunker's Delight" Legacy
There’s a deep-rooted history here that casual fans often miss. Obi isn't just a high-flyer because of his vertical. It's in his DNA. His father, Obadiah Toppin, was a New York City legend. If you grew up watching streetball in the 90s or early 2000s, you knew the name.
When Obi jumped over his dad in 2021, it wasn't just a prop choice. It was a passing of the torch.
In Cleveland, Obi brought out "Chuck" from Team Flight Brothers. He leaped over him while going behind the back. It only got a 44 because he missed the first two attempts, but the degree of difficulty was astronomical. Toppin's ability to maintain body control at 6'9" is what sets him apart. Most guys that size are clunky. Obi moves like a shooting guard in a power forward's body.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Win
If you search for "Obi Toppin dunk contest," you'll find a lot of articles calling it one of the worst contests ever.
That’s unfair to Obi.
Sure, the pacing was bad. Yes, the other contestants struggled to land their dunks. But Toppin was consistent. He was professional. He understood that the first rule of a dunk contest is actually making the dunk. He didn't just play it safe, though. He pushed the boundaries of what a "safe" dunk looks like for him. For Obi, a between-the-legs windmill is a high-percentage shot. Think about how crazy that is for a second.
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He joined the ranks of Nate Robinson and Kenny Walker as the only Knicks to ever win the trophy. That's elite company in Manhattan.
The Mechanics of an Obi Toppin Dunk
- Verticality: He’s got a reported 44-inch max vertical.
- Wingspan: His length allows him to clear the ball under his legs with room to spare.
- Hang Time: He seems to "hover" at the apex, giving him that extra split second to tap the backboard or switch hands.
Is the Dunk Contest Dead?
After Toppin's win, there was a lot of talk about whether the NBA should just scrap the event. Then Mac McClung came along and "saved" it, but Toppin was the bridge. He was the last "traditional" NBA rotation player to really give it his all and win before the league started leaning on G-League invites to spice things up.
Toppin’s performance proved that you don't need a mascot or a car. You just need a guy who can fly and a backboard to bounce things off of.
Honestly, I think we'll look back at Toppin's 2022 run with more respect in five years. We'll realize that while the event was a mess, the winner was a legitimate athletic marvel. He didn't just show up. He showed out.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Dunkers
If you want to truly appreciate what Obi did, or if you're trying to improve your own hops, here is what you need to look at:
- Analyze the "Taper" Method: Watch the slow-motion footage of Toppin’s backboard-tap dunk. Notice his hand placement. He isn't just slapping the glass; he's using it to recalibrate his balance for the finish.
- Study the 2021 vs. 2022 Contrast: In 2021, he went for power and props. In 2022, he went for technical precision. The lesson? Adaptation wins trophies.
- Appreciate the Narrative: Sports are better when there’s a story. Toppin’s "revenge" for the 2021 snub made the 2022 win meaningful, regardless of what the critics said about the rest of the field.
- Check Out "Dunker's Delight" Archives: To understand Obi’s style, look up old clips of his father on YouTube. You’ll see the same "wind-up" motion in their dunks. It’s a Toppin family trademark.
Obi Toppin might be in Indiana now, but his legacy as a New York City dunking icon is set in stone. He came, he saw, and he finally got his revenge.