Obi's Larry Bird moment

[San Diego Flyer]

I am a little surprised there has been scant mention of Obi's Larry Bird moment.

Obi was camped on the wing right in front of the Kansas bench when it happened spontaneously. Obi had a man on him, hesitated for a couple seconds then let fly with
a step back three. Ok you say, nothing new there.

But a split second later with the ball 2/3rds of the way to the bucket, Obi turned his back to the shot and stared down the Kansas bench. He never saw the ball go in the basket, touching nothing but net. He just knew it was going to go down. Only Bird had the moxy to pull that off, and it's not something a player would plan to do. When the shot was brought up, AG had to look away so as not to offer any endorsement.

Now the purists will say stupid, brash, would have missed a follow up rebound, bush, hot dog, et al. and you would be right. But sometimes a spontaneous act defines another level of skill, confidence, spontaneity. This was one of those moments. It was a step up from Obi's around the back under the leg one hand dunk.

[udflyerhoops2]

Loved it! The best part was that there was a guy on the Kansas bench hollering at Obi when he was taking that shot. That was who he was directing it to. Not even an "F' Kansas" moment. It was purely directed to one player. Awesome!

[steverino015]

Jay Bilas loved it, so did I!! I hope it made the top 10, it sure should of!...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHKEqzor2-E

[Gazoo]

I would not say "only" Bird could pull that off. But yes, sometimes, you have to stab a m-f- to gain some respect.

[DGO67]

So Obi knew the ball was going in...so did I!

[BeckysTXA]

The best part was Obi didn’t say a word. Didn’t have to. Stared the bench down and ran back on defense. He has always been a class-act and great sportsman. He ran over to help Dodson up after he hit the floor on a layup earlier in the game.

[SeasonTicketFan]

Just before the shot, the Kansas bench chirping in his ear. One of the big men. There was trash talking going on. I noticed it right away on the replay.

Not sure I agree with his action, there but I think it is important to note that he was probably saying "Right back at you" or something much more modern with his body language...

[Swampy Meadows]

Larry Bird’s ultimate Larry Bird moment was when he scored 60 vs ATL. He was trash talking all game and told the guy covering him “Rainbow...Trainer’s lap” and proceeded to hit a rainbow three point jumper and ended up in the ATL Trainer’s lap!
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[Smitty10]

I thought I remember Baby D or someone doing something similar in the recent past. Coming from a guy as big and who throws up much less 3s though is more fascinating though.

[San Diego Flyer]

Originally Posted by Swampy Meadows Larry Bird’s ultimate Larry Bird moment was when he scored 60 vs ATL. He was trash talking all game and told the guy covering him “Rainbow...Trainer’s lap” and proceeded to hit a rainbow three point jumper and ended up in the ATL Trainer’s lap! Posted via Mobile Device

IMO that's what separated a Larry Bird moment from all others. He told you what he was going to do to you, and then he did it.

Obi's moment was pretty classy, but undeniably effective.

[SC_Flyer]

You can't teach swagger.

[podcast411]

Originally Posted by SC_Flyer You can't teach swagger.

With 30 NBA scouts in the house - I am sure they did not miss that either. Probably moved him up a couple of spots in the draft.

[San Diego Flyer]

Some new ink doesn't hurt either. "Love You Mom".

You go Obi !

[Medford]

Originally Posted by San Diego Flyer Only Bird had the moxy to pull that off, and it's not something a player would plan to do.

Don't watch much NBA do you? I don't watch much myself, but will tune in for the playoffs and I've seen Steph do this same thing often. I've also seen Durant, Lebron, Harden and countless other "dudes" that I can't recall do the same thing. I'm sure Obi was getting a lot of chirping from the Kansas bench, so as soon as he knew his release was pure, he turned to stare them down just so he could see them shut up.


None the less, it was pretty sweet, he's got moxy.

[CJ2etc]

On the Titus & Tate Maui wrap up podcast they were saying that some dude in a white polo was talking to Obi before the shot, most likely abt Obi not having any points yet.

[Lifelong Flyer Fan]

A clip of that shot was also in Seth Davis' article in the Athletic entitled "Hoop Thoughts: How the college basketball world got flat, Dayton’s breakout star, why Michigan is my new No. 1 and lots more".

"When I spoke with Toppin by phone on Sunday, he sounded a little sheepish about the play, although not quite apologetic. “It would have been bad if I missed,” he said. “When I shot the ball, I just knew automatically it was going in. I heard them scream something at me right before. I just got caught up in the moment, I guess.”

There are 7 or 8 paragraphs about Obi and Dayton. My favorite quote:

When I asked Toppin whether he felt like a lot more people know about him than a week ago, he replied, “I feel like a lot more people know about Dayton than they did a week ago. We proved we can compete with anyone. It’s just a matter of how bad we want it.”

[shocka43]

In your best Rafferty voice...."Onions".

Obi let's his play on the court speak for itself. He buried that shot, looked at the bench, and didn't say a word. Those guys on the bench probably said to themselves...F...that dude can ball...maybe we shouldn't bump our gums.

I am not for consistent classless trash talking. I am for standing up and letting it hang from time to time. Kyle Davis did it, Chris Johnson did it, the list goes on and on.

Sometimes you gotta let the other guy know you mean business...if this crap went on every possession I would have an issue with it no matter the team or the player.

[BeckysTXA]

Originally Posted by Lifelong Flyer Fan When I asked Toppin whether he felt like a lot more people know about him than a week ago, he replied, “I feel like a lot more people know about Dayton than they did a week ago. We proved we can compete with anyone. It’s just a matter of how bad we want it.”

In the years/decades to come, when fans talk about the great Obi Toppin and his place in Flyer-lore, this is will be one of many quotes we bring back up. He will go down as one of the greatest players and ambassadors for Dayton.

[Canonball]

Obi appears to be the player that we all thought Chris Wright had the potential to be. Body control, consistent outside shot, and thunder at the rim.

	Chris Wright CHRIS WRIGHT 6-8 225lb | Trotwood Madison, HS (OH) A10 All Rookie Team. Preseason 2008 2nd Team All A10. Member of the UD Flight Club with a 40+ inch vertical leap. Consensus Top-75 national recruit. Uncle is former Flyer J.D. Grigsby. Nickname is Top Flyght. CAREER STATS 2007-08 10.4ppg 5.7rpg

[Swampy Meadows]

Obi is included in Jeff Goodman's "Winners and Losers From Multi-Team Events in College Basketball" list:

3) Obi Toppin – Dayton’s big man went out to Maui and averaged 22.3 points and 7.0 boards per game in leading the Flyers to wins over Georgia and Virginia Tech, and also playing until the wire with Kansas. Toppin didn’t just improve his draft stock by making 6-of-11 shots from deep, but also showed he is one of the top big men in the country. Dayton is in good shape entering December.

https://watchstadium.com/news/winner...er-12-02-2019/

[Buckleyma]

Originally Posted by Canonball Obi appears to be the player that we all thought Chris Wright had the potential to be. Body control, consistent outside shot, and thunder at the rim.

Canonball: I concur with your comparison. Everybody knew that Chris Wright needed to develop a mid-range jump shot. I remember an interview with Chris Wright where he was asked about it. In hindsight, he reflected that the coaching staff had encouraged him to practice a mid-range jump shot but he said that he was more interested in developing other parts of his game. He did not expound on what those others parts of his game were. I assumed he meant dunking and free throws. Oddly enough, even after leaving the university and turning pro, he still never developed a jump shot. All of his highlight videos from the Middle East and other stop-overs were of him dunking.

Another player with the same issue was Marcus Johnson. Again, enormously gifted but no consistent jump shot.
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	Chris Wright CHRIS WRIGHT 6-8 225lb | Trotwood Madison, HS (OH) A10 All Rookie Team. Preseason 2008 2nd Team All A10. Member of the UD Flight Club with a 40+ inch vertical leap. Consensus Top-75 national recruit. Uncle is former Flyer J.D. Grigsby. Nickname is Top Flyght. CAREER STATS 2007-08 10.4ppg 5.7rpg

[CvilleFlyer]

Originally Posted by shocka43 In your best Rafferty voice...."Onions". Obi let's his play on the court speak for itself. He buried that shot, looked at the bench, and didn't say a word. Those guys on the bench probably said to themselves...F...that dude can ball...maybe we shouldn't bump our gums. I am not for consistent classless trash talking. I am for standing up and letting it hang from time to time. Kyle Davis did it, Chris Johnson did it, the list goes on and on. Sometimes you gotta let the other guy know you mean business...if this crap went on every possession I would have an issue with it no matter the team or the player.

Speaking of Kyle Davis, I loved that kid! He was everywhere! We would have defeated Kansas the other night if Kyle was on the team this year because every time the ball would go inside to Azubuike, instead of an easy two points he would have stripped the ball from him. This was all the while he would have been guarding Devon Dotson and keeping him from driving the lane!

Also, I remember that if he had the ball in his hands on a fast break I would yell "sandwich" because I had time to go to the kitchen as it was a sure two points.

[San Diego Flyer]

Originally Posted by Medford Don't watch much NBA do you? I don't watch much myself, None the less, it was pretty sweet, he's got moxy.

You could have stopped right there and been more accurate.

[MNFats]

ESPN ranked their top 25 college basketball players one month into the season. They ranked Obi #5. Article itself is behind a paywall, but good recognition for Obi.

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by CvilleFlyer Speaking of Kyle Davis, I loved that kid! He was everywhere! We would have defeated Kansas the other night if Kyle was on the team this year because every time the ball would go inside to Azubuike, instead of an easy two points he would have stripped the ball from him. This was all the while he would have been guarding Devon Dotson and keeping him from driving the lane! Also, I remember that if he had the ball in his hands on a fast break I would yell "sandwich" because I had time to go to the kitchen as it was a sure two points.

How could any Flyer fan not like Kyle Davis. The young man played his butt off every time he entered the court. We have players like that today, but Kyle is a guy whose hustle always rose to the occasion. His pass to Jordan Sibert against Fort Wayne will always be remembered.

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by MNFats ESPN ranked their top 25 college basketball players one month into the season. They ranked Obi #5. Article itself is behind a paywall, but good recognition for Obi.

I remain steadfast on my preseason comment - first Flyer All American since Jim Paxson.