CLEVELAND — There’s a new uniform on Obi Toppin. A different hairdo, as well. But the smile is still there on the 25-year-old, the same joyful energy that helped turn Toppin into a Knicks fan favorite.
He was, at the very beginning of his pro career, the hometown kid who was billed as the answer at power forward, the best pure athlete the Knicks had rostered in a long time. Maybe ever. Toppin dunked spectacularly and looked like he had a blast doing it.
For the fans, what’s not to like?
But that New York chapter is over.
The divorce wasn’t contentious, but their differences were irreconcilable.
“It’s nothing personal,” Toppin told The Post. “It’s just the business side of things. Obviously I was upset at times but you got to get past that.”
The issues that sapped Toppin’s enthusiasm for the Knicks aren’t present on the Pacers.
At least not yet.
He’s the team’s starting power forward and, as Toppin explained Saturday, there’s freedom to play through mistakes under coach Rick Carlisle.
With the Knicks, he was stuck behind an All-Star, Julius Randle, who was durable and among the league leaders in minutes played.
It wasn’t meant to be that way but Randle exceeded all expectations during Toppin’s rookie season, leading to a four-year extension that solidified Toppin’s bench status.
He was also on a tight leash with Tom Thibodeau, which manifested in stints on the court that were cut short by mental errors.
Toppin, who averaged 15.7 minutes last season, felt that hindered his development.
“It’s definitely super hard,” said Toppin, who was traded to the Pacers for two second-round picks. “For me, being in the game, being in live games, it’s easier to say you can mess up on something and get better from it than it would be in practice. If you don’t play, you don’t get through your mistakes and you don’t learn.
“You’re like, ‘OK, damn. I’m coming out if I’m making a mistake.’ That’s definitely super hard. For me personally, I would say.”
On that subject, Toppin said he’s already felt a different vibe in Indiana.
It was less apparent in Saturday night’s 125-113 victory over Cleveland, when Toppin struggled and logged just 17 minutes with four points.
But he’s convinced it won’t be a similar situation to New York.
“I ain’t gotta worry about that here. … I can learn from mistakes. I can get better,” he said. “I feel like it can take my game to another level.”
Beyond the extra freedom and playing time, there are stylistic reasons to believe the Pacers are a better fit. Carlisle’s squad is young and will undoubtedly own one of the NBA’s fastest paces, which suits Toppin’s greatest strength of scoring in transition.
It was much different on Thibodeau’s Knicks — which ranked 27th, 29th and 30th in pace during Toppin’s three seasons (though the bench unit generally played faster).
Toppin also now plays alongside Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ All-Star point guard and ideal alley-oop partner.
“He was in a tough situation playing behind [Randle] and all that. Now he’s in a great situation,” Knicks guard Quentin Grimes told The Post. “I feel like he can go out and play through his mistakes, go out there and play with a guy like Tyrese who is a willing passer, a guy who is trying to make the pass 24/7. So that will be good for him.”
“As far as athleticism,” Grimes added, “[Toppin’s] probably top-five in the league, for sure.”
In Indiana’s Game 1 blowout victory over the Wizards last week, Toppin dropped 11 points in 19 minutes. In the preseason, he unleashed his trademark under-the-legs dunk on a breakaway.
The athleticism has impressed guard Bruce Brown, who joined the Pacers in the summer after winning a title with the Nuggets.
“It’s different,” Brown told The Post. “The s–t that he does in practice or even games is insane. He does trick dunks in games. Which is crazy.
“He’s doing great,” Brown added. “Shoots the ball really well. Better than I thought he could. Been a great player for us. Super athletic.”
Brown then smiled.
“And he’s a crazy cherry picker.”
guard Max Strus. AP
The leaking out, or cherry picking, is partly why Toppin never worked in some of Thibodeau’s lineups.
Securing the rebound is a Knicks priority, which is among the reasons Thibodeau will almost always have a traditional center on the floor.
Defense was another problem with Toppin in New York, and he’s taken that to heart.
“I want to be an All-Star,” he said. “I want to be All-Defense one year.
“So I’ll keep working on that.”
Just not in New York.
“I’m a hometown kid, so obviously I’m going to miss the city, miss the fans,” Toppin said. “But we’re in Indiana now, baby. New opportunity. New home. We’re just getting started.”
