Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin's frustration appeared to get the best of him on multiple occasions throughout the 2022-2023 season.
But during the Knicks' second-round playoff series against the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, Toppin directed his aggravation directly at head coach Tom Thibodeau, according to a report from The Athletic.
Toppin appeared to be upset over Thibodeau's decision to bench him for the entire second half of Game 4 in Miami, which sparked an "intense" verbal altercation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks talks with head coach Tom Thibodeau during a stop in play against the Miami Heat during game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2023 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images) According to the report, the alteration "spilled into the [team’s] postgame meeting" in the visiting locker room. OBI TOPPIN ATTEMPTS TO DOWNPLAY HEATED EXCHANGE WITH RJ BARRETT DURING KNICKS-CAVALIERS GAME: 'WE’RE GOOD' Toppin was not made available to speak with the media for the remainder of the series.
In the opening game of the playoff series, Toppin was in the starting lineup in place of an injured Julius Randle. He finished Game 1 with 18 points and eight rebounds.