The New York Knicks anounced on Wednesday that they re-signed forward Jacob Toppin to a two-way contract for the 2024-25 season.
Toppin, the younger brother of former Knicks first-round pick and current Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin, appeared in nine games for the Knicks and 25 games for the team’s G League affiliate in Westchester last season.
A 6’8″, 200-pound forward out of Kentucky, Toppin went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Knicks on an Exhibit 10 deal that was converted to a two-way contract in October. He showed flashes of potential in the G League, averaging 19.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with the Westchester squad.
Toppin led the Westchester Knicks to the 2023 G League Showcase Cup Tournament Championship, scoring 23 points in a win against the Indiana Mad Ants. He also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and placed third.
The Knicks are coming off a banner offseason in which they built a roster that can contend for an NBA championship for years to come. New York acquired star Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and re-signed swingman OG Anunoby to a max deal, giving the team one of the best defensive wing duos in the league.
New York also locked up star point guard Jalen Brunson with a contract extension, solidifying him as the face of the franchise after he led the team to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. In the 2024 draft, the team acquired highly-touted point guard Tyler Kolek in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Toppin will be hoping to earn more time with the Knicks as they try to compete for an NBA title in 2024-25.