No Timetable for Obi Toppin's Return from Injury

Pacers GM Chad Buchanan provides update on injured forward's recovery timeline

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan discussed the status of forward Obi Toppin's recovery from foot surgery, emphasizing progress but stopping short of providing a definitive return date. Buchanan praised Toppin's positive attitude and engagement with the team despite the disappointment of missing most of the season so far.

Why it matters

Toppin has been a key part of the Pacers' recent postseason success, providing valuable production as a dynamic stretch-five option. His absence has been felt, but the team is prioritizing his long-term health over rushing him back prematurely.

The details

Buchanan said the team has been 'ramping him back up to a certain level' to ensure Toppin feels 'comfortable and confident' before returning. While no timetable has been set, the expectation is that Toppin will suit up again this season, with 27 games remaining after the All-Star break providing a potential window for him to regain rhythm and build chemistry with his teammates.

  • Toppin has appeared in just 3 games so far this season.

The players

Obi Toppin

Indiana Pacers forward who has been sidelined with a foot injury.

Chad Buchanan

Indiana Pacers general manager who provided an update on Toppin's recovery.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I think he's made great progress with his recovery. Whenever you have something with the foot, you want to be pretty cautious with it. So we've been ramping him back up to a certain level where we want to make sure that he feels comfortable and confident, that our medical staff does as well, and put him in the best position to get himself back to the Obi that we all know and love, and give him some chemistry with our guys this year. So don't have an exact timetable when he's going to be playing again, but he's made progress and we're happy with where things are at with him.”

— Chad Buchanan, Indiana Pacers General Manager (Setting The Pace)

“Very tough. Obi has got just an infectious, positive personality and he never lets on to the group that he's disappointed. Early on that was an adjustment for him, but he's been his usual jovial, upbeat, engaging self pretty quickly after the surgery. It's been much needed for the group. This year, wins have been hard to find. But the good thing about this group — I'd say about Coach Carlisle and his coaching staff and our entire staff in general — I feel like our culture and our positivity and our daily vibe around the team has remained good. I think if you were to walk into one of our practices right now, you wouldn't know that we have 14 or 15 wins. I think Obi is a big part of that. He brings a lot of life to the gym every day, brings a lot of smiles, a lot of communication. He's very upbeat and engaging with everybody. It's not just him and one other guy — he's engaging with the entire staff. He knows that we've missed him this year. I think he knows what he brings to the group and he's anxious to get back out there and show his value to the team.”

— Chad Buchanan, Indiana Pacers General Manager (Setting The Pace)

What’s next

Indiana will have 27 games remaining after the All-Star break, providing a potential window for Toppin to regain rhythm and build chemistry with his teammates.

The takeaway

While there is no definitive timetable for Obi Toppin's return, the Pacers are prioritizing his long-term health and ensuring he comes back fully healthy and confident. His positive attitude and engagement with the team have been valuable during a difficult season, and his unique skillset as a dynamic stretch-five will be a welcome addition when he's able to suit up again.