Two-way player Jacob Toppin will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right labrum on Monday. Toppin suffered the injury in a November 29th G League match against the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' affiliate.
An @emoryhealthcare injury update:
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 8, 2025
Two-way forward Jacob Toppin sustained a right shoulder injury on Nov. 29 during the third quarter of the College Park Skyhawks game at Delaware. Toppin underwent surgery today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex to repair a torn labrum in… pic.twitter.com/EP12Crpv95
Toppin signed with the Hawks on a two-way deal in March of this year, ending a two-year stint with the New York/Westchester Knicks. He played in one game for the Hawks last season, scoring 17 points, and in five this season. The bulk of Toppins' minutes have come in the G League, where he’s averaged nearly a double-double over the last two seasons.
While on the Knicks, Toppin competed in the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest. While he was eliminated in the first round, he made waves for the dunk he was saving for the final round.
Here’s the dunk Jacob Toppin saved for the finals of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
— Chuck Millan | THE Dunk Guy (@TFBChuckTheBoss) February 27, 2024
It took me eghhh 10 minutes to teach him this 2 hand lost & found dunk.. He’s the only person in the world that has done this. pic.twitter.com/GsST8kdHy4
Toppin has a place in the NBA and deserves a real rotation spot next year
Toppin is the younger brother of Obi Toppin, the 8th pick in the 2020 draft and a key contributor for the Indiana Pacers’ Cinderella run last postseason. Like his brother (as seen in the video above), Jacob is a high-flying athlete who only began to blossom as a shooter late in his career. Obi didn’t find a consistent starting role until his age-25 season – this is Jacob’s age-25 season.
Jacob averaged 15.3 points in 23 minutes of summer league action over the summer. He clearly looked like one of the players most likely to have an immediate NBA impact, even moreso than first round pick Asa Newell. Unfortunately, Toppin didn’t get a chance to impress before his season ended. The Hawks’ forwards have stayed healthy for the most part, and the Hawks opted to give Newell developmental minutes over Toppin when injury did strike.
While this is a disappointing end to Toppin’s season, hope is not lost for his career. The Hawks will have to make decisions regarding Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis’s contracts, which could force the team to let some of their wing depth go to save cap space (i.e. Mo Gueye, Luke Kennard). Whether he remains in a two-way role or is elevated to a full-time NBA contract, Toppin is the kind of player who can fit into any team.
Toppin has never been given a real chance in the NBA. Usually, when a player doesn’t get a chance, it is easy to see why. Maybe they hey struggle to impact the game in their NBA role, or they have glaring weaknesses that make them a liability. But Toppin should be the type of player every team is desperate to tender a two-way offer. Hopefully, he can remain a Hawk and break into the rotation next season.