New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin loses Slam Dunk Contest to Anfernee Simons

03/07/2021

obi topping new york knicks — Courtesy Instagram: NBA

Although Obi Toppin narrowly lost to Anfernee Simons, his Slam Dunk Contest experience was still a success.

Obi Toppin brought out all the stops — including his father, Dunker’s Delight — but it wasn’t enough to top Anfernee Simons in the Slam Dunk Contest. The New York Knicks rookie ended up losing out to Simons on the final dunk, but he was still thrilled with his All-Star weekend experience in general.

“It’s a blessing that I’m here on this stage,” Toppin told reporters on a Zoom after the contest. “A lot of people would dream to be in this position and I’m living it. It’s an amazing feeling and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Toppin, 23, doesn’t feel like he was robbed, pointing to the fact that Simons made his dunks on the first try. The rookie made sure to soak up the entire experience while he could. He admitted to being starstruck when he talked with LeBron on the court.

“I always said LeBron was one guy that if I see him I’m a be like ‘wow,’ and as soon as I seen him, he looked at me came up to me and he was like ‘what’s up Obi?’ I was like, ‘dang you know my name?'”

Earlier in the night, Julius Randle lost in the Skills Competition to the eventual winner, Domantas Sabonis. Despite the losses, Sunday was still a great night for Toppin, Randle, and Knicks fans alike.

Here are the three Toppin dunks from the Slam Dunk Contest: