Toppin plans for second season in NBA to be much different than first season

Toppin showed off those skills in the playoffs. He averaged 6.4 points after averaging 4.1 in the regular season. In a Zoom interview — his first since the Knicks’ season ended with a first-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks in May — with reporters Wednesday, Toppin talked about what he gained in the postseason.

“It was definitely was a confidence booster because I felt myself getting better,” said Toppin, who will return to Ohio later this month to host a basketball camp in Beavercreek, “but at the same time, I felt like it was just the work that I was putting in every single day before that. I stuck to what I know. My teammates had confidence in me and had confidence that I was going to do what I had to do on the court.”

Toppin entered the NBA in December without any of the typical offseason preparation rookies get. He did not a full preseason of practice with the Knicks. He did not get to play in the NBA Summer League. The pandemic prevented all rookies from getting those opportunities. It will be a different story this year.

The NBA Summer League will take place Aug. 8-17 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“I‘m definitely looking forward to summer league,” Toppin said. “It is opportunity to showcase what I’ve been working on all summer. Me and (Quickley) and everybody else who’s playing in summer league is going to do great.”

First, Toppin is gaining experience playing against some of the NBA’s best players during the Olympic team’s training camp. He was one of 17 players named to the USA Select Team roster. A video posted to Twitter on Wednesday showed him guarding Kevin Durant. Toppin said the other players have told him to be a sponge and soak in knowledge from the veterans. The camp started Tuesday and ends Friday.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to come out here and have the opportunity to work out with these guys, the best players in the world, on this Olympic team,” Toppin said, “and some of the best upcoming players, and have an opportunity to learn under the coaches here and be able to play with these players. I’m learning a lot, and it’s going to translate into my game for the upcoming season.”

Toppin got off to a slow start in his rookie season and saw his playing time dwindle. He made progress in the final month of the season and continued to show improvement in the playoffs, raising hopes he can play a bigger role next season.

Toppin took three or four days off after the season and then got back in the gym.

“I’m working really hard in this offseason to be better for my second season,” he said, “and it’s gonna be a lot different than the first season.”