Obi Toppin to undergo right foot surgery, out at least three months
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin was diagnosed with a partial stress fracture in his right foot and is set to undergo surgery in New York next week.
There will be a time when there is good Indiana Pacers news to share.
But today is not that day.
On Friday, before the Pacers hosted the Atlanta Hawks for their first NBA Cup of the season, the team provided another injury update.
After further examination, forward Obi Toppin was diagnosed with a partial stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot — the long bone on the outside that connects to the pinky toe.
Surgery is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, to be performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
O’Malley is one of the most respected specialists in the country and is the same doctor who performed three Achilles tendon repairs for the team in the past year — for James Wiseman, Isaiah Jackson, and Tyrese Haliburton.
The injury appeared to happen against Minnesota on Oct. 26. Toppin exited the team’s 114-110 loss with 3:11 left in the third quarter, then was ruled out for the game with right leg soreness.
Before Friday’s game, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters not to expect another update for three months — until February.
Now you know why I was concerned — and wrote ‘uh oh!’ — when the Pacers updated the injury report to reflect this injury. A stress reaction often becomes a stress fracture — and requires surgery.
That’s the case here.
Toppin and guard T.J. McConnell led the team last season in games played, appearing in 79 of 82 contests. One season later, Toppin needs surgery, and McConnell is sidelined to start the season.
Toppin ranked sixth in minutes last season, McConnell was seventh, and Haliburton — who is out for the season — was No. 2. With Myles Turner leaving in free agency, Pascal Siakam, who led the team in minutes, is the only returning player from last season’s top seven in total minutes.
It’s another tough blow for a Pacers team already navigating an early-season stretch without several key contributors.
And this injury creates a larger opportunity for third-year forward Jarace Walker, who scored a career-high 20 points last game after making his first start of the season.
Known Injury Timelines
Haliburton (Achilles rehab) — out for season
Toppin (right foot surgery) — out through January
McConnell (left hamstring strain) — out until mid-November
Kam Jones (low back stress reaction) — out until mid-November
Uncertain Injury Timelines
Johnny Furphy (bone bruise, left foot)
Andrew Nembhard (left shoulder strain)
Bennedict Mathurin (right great big toe strain)
Nembhard is continuing to make progress. I’m told he was on the court about 45 minutes before tip-off on Friday to get shots up.
By the end of this week, the Pacers are on track to be eligible for the hardship exception — which would allow for them to exceed the 15-man roster to sign one player to a 10-day contract.
I've written this elsewhere but it is worth repeating. The basketball gods want us to have a gap year whether or not we want one.