Obi Taupin ready for surgery, out until at least the NBA All-Star break
The Indiana Pacers‘ The 2025-2026 season got off to a rough start. Not only are the defending Eastern Conference champions 0-4, but the injury bug has already hit the team hard. Sagittarius Benedikt Maturin has a toe injury from week to week. Point guard Andrew Nembhard missed three of the first four games with a shoulder injury.
now, Obi Toppinwho missed the last game due to a foot injury, was diagnosed with a partial stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of the right leg. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle revealed that Topin started the operation to put a screw in his foot, as Pacers beat writer Dustin Dopirak.
The veteran coach also let the media know that there is no point in asking about his status until at least February 1st. That’s an ominous sign for Indiana and Toppin’s potential to bounce back this season. As long as the team falls further and further behind in the standings.
Of course, the Pacers did not have the highest expectations entering the season. That’s because of a horrific injury to All-Star Tyrese Haliburton in last season’s NBA Finals.
Without the team’s field general, few expected Indiana to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Still, he was expected to take on a big role for the Pacers. Topin signed a four-year, $60 million extension to stay in Indiana. The first two years with the Pacers were the best of his career. But through the first three games of the year, his game seemed to be elevated.
The standout college dunker averaged over 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and a steal per game. Obviously, that’s a small sample size. But given the sudden lack of depth, it’s very likely he’ll still be one of the primary scorers.
Instead, the Pacers are forced to abandon playing small ball and use a more traditional lineup. In today’s NBA, it’s hard to win like that.
2025-10-31 21:49:00
