Obi Toppin’s rise in the NBA has roots that trace back to his parents, who’ve played important roles in shaping his journey. His father made a name in streetball, while his mother built a career in education.
Their backgrounds and support offer a closer look at the foundation behind Toppin’s success.
Toppin’s Father Played for Brooklyn Kings and Harlem Strong Dogs
Obadiah Toppin Sr. is widely known by his nickname “Dunker’s Delight,” which he earned for his ability to dunk. However, according to the Players Tribune, Toppins noted that his father has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. “My man could throw it down from anywhere. Cradle-reverse dunk? Easy. 360 windmill? Might as well be a layup. He could fly,” Toppin said.
He began his journey by playing basketball at the Globe Institute of Technology, where he averaged 23.5 points per game. After this, he played for the Brooklyn Kings in the United States Basketball League and Harlem Strong Dogs in the American Basketball Association. He also played for the Dominican Republic for a short time.
He gained significant popularity when he played in the streetball circuit for venues like Dyckman Park and Rucker Park in Manhattan. He was a major player for Court Kingz, a team known for its high-flying performance.
He played a major role in shaping Toppin’s love for the game, which is encapsulated in the 12-year-old Toppin’s experience teaming with his father for an alley-oop dunk during a Court Kingz game.
Further in that interview, he explained his experience when he went with his dad to watch the game. Toppin said, “When I was 12. Oh my God, you want to talk about nerves. I was just a scrawny kid out there, and because of my dad I was running with the most amazing players as they’re putting on a show.”
Toppin’s Mother Works as an Educator
His mother, Roni Toppin, is an educator at Washington Heights Middle School in New York City, where she teaches students on the autism spectrum. Before her teaching role, she was a high school volleyball coach.
As per Marc Berman of Fox News, she expressed her desire to watch her son play live. She said, “I’ve watched all the games on TV, but I’m so upset, I’m trying to find the right person to get me a job at Madison Square Garden,” Roni told The Post in a Christmas Eve interview. “I’ll be a custodian at the Garden. I’ll disinfect the whole arena if they want. More than anything, I wish I can be there.”
Toppin Jr. expressed his appreciation for his mother when he recalled his past struggles to the Players Tribune, recalling when they had to change houses often.
“We struggled a lot. We moved around to a lot of different apartments, and most of them weren’t places I want to remember. It’s easy to lose focus and fall down the wrong path in that situation,” Toppin said. “And that’s why I was lucky that my dad wasn’t the only hero in my family. My mom? She’s a real legend, too. Not necessarily for her game — although she did coach a little bit — but because she was the one who gave my family stability growing up. No matter where we were, she always held us together.”
As per the Daily Dayton News, his mother once recalled when Toppin Jr. was a little boy and his mother put him in a stroller and took him on a ride around the neighborhood.
She said, “As soon as we got there he’d start waving to everybody and just saying, ‘Hi! … Hi! … Hi!’” Roni said with a laugh. “He wanted to make a connection with everybody he saw. He wanted to talk to everybody, wanted to make friends. And he’s still that way.”
He also has a younger brother named Jacob, who played college basketball at Rhode Island and Kentucky. He started his professional basketball career in 2023 with the New York Knicks and finished the 2024-25 season with the Atlanta Hawks on a two-way contract.
Toppin’s parents have been a visible part of his story, both on and off the court. From his dad’s streetball days to his mom cheering courtside, their role has been prominent throughout.
