Lu Dort, Obi Toppin rewrite their narratives in NBA Finals debut

Dort and Toppin, once labeled “cannot shoot” coming into their NBA careers, both made big impacts in their first-ever Finals game, draining 5 threes each

In the NBA, the brightest lights often reveal the clearest truths.

For Lu Dort and Obi Toppin, the opening game of the 2025 NBA Finals was more than just their debut on basketball’s biggest stage – it was a triumphant vindication. Two players once written off as flawed prospects because of their shooting, each drained five three-pointers in Game 1, helping their teams swing momentum and silence long-standing doubts about their offensive ceilings.

It was a performance steeped in symbolism. Dort, the undrafted defensive ace turned perimeter weapon, and Toppin, the high-flying former lottery pick once typecast as an energy dunker, had just reshaped the narrative – not just for the game, but for their careers.

Five threes. That’s what both Dort and Toppin registered by the final buzzer in their Finals debuts. For any role player, that’s an outstanding night. But for these two in particular, it was poetic justice.

Lu Dort wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t drafted in 2019, and scouts questioned whether he had the offensive tools to stick in the league. He carved a role for himself with smothering defense, becoming one of the league’s fiercest perimeter defenders. But that label – defensive stopper who can’t shoot – stuck.

For years, Dort was left open. Defenses dared him to shoot. And too often, they were right to. His mechanics were rigid and his decision-making was erratic. But he didn’t let that define him.

Dort has been one of the hardest workers on this OKC Thunder squad, shooting hundreds of reps every day during the  offseason and the regular season even during losing streaks or back-to-backs.

That dedication culminated in Game 1, where Dort’s five triples not only stretched the defense but gave Oklahoma City a vital offensive release valve in a high-stakes contest. Each make felt like the culmination of countless unseen hours.

Across the court, Obi Toppin was having a moment of his own.

Drafted eighth overall in 2020 by the New York Knicks, Toppin entered the league with highlight-reel athleticism and a college resume built on jaw-dropping dunks and vertical explosion. But quickly, he was pigeonholed and relegated just to that specific role alone.

The knock on Toppin was that he couldn’t space the floor. That he was a dunker, not a basketball player. That once the athleticism declined, so would his value.

That narrative followed him out of New York and into Indiana, where a fresh start and head coach Rick Carlisle who believed in his development gave Toppin the runway to evolve. Over the past two seasons, Toppin’s shooting steadily improved as his release quickened and his confidence grew. And in Game 1 of the Finals, it all came together.

Five made threes. All in rhythm and all fearless, with shots coming in from the crucial third and fourth quarters that helped Indiana to come back from a 15-point deficit.

Toppin didn’t just space the floor – he bent it. He turned OKC’s defense into a scramble, forcing rotations, opening lanes, and punishing closeouts. He played like someone who knew what this moment meant, not just for the game, but for the version of himself that people doubted for years.

Superstars dominate headlines in the NBA Finals, and rightfully so. But Dort and Toppin reminded the world that role players can swing games – and championships too. Their impact wasn’t just about the box score; it was about the confidence they gave their teammates and the pressure they took off their stars.

Dort’s three-point makes gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the spacing he needed to operate. Toppin’s shooting allowed Tyrese Haliburton to orchestrate with a wider canvas. And in a game of inches, those extra feet of space mattered.

This wasn’t some hot-shooting fluke. It was the product of years of sweat equity.

Dort entered the Finals shooting a career-high percentage from three this season. He rebuilt his jumper from the ground up and transformed his shot selection. Toppin, meanwhile, has quietly become a legitimate stretch four, hitting a good amount of his threes this season on increased volume.

What we saw in Game 1 wasn’t a one-night miracle – it was a crescendo after years of being overlooked in that department.

It’s easy to forget that both players were, at one point, afterthoughts in their respective teams' long-term plans.

Dort fought for a two-way contract, eventually earning his place in OKC’s young core through defense, hustle, and improvement. Toppin was traded for spare parts. His exit from New York barely registered as a headline. But in Indiana, he found a system that let him grow.

Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals was their statement.

For Dort, it was a validation of years spent being the first one in the gym and the last one out. For Toppin, it was confirmation that the dunk contest was just a footnote in his journey, not the highlight.

They didn’t just hit five threes. They rewrote the scouting reports. They proved the doubters wrong in basketball’s biggest stage.

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There’s something beautiful about seeing players redefine themselves. Not through viral highlights or big contracts, but through unglamorous, tireless work.

Dort and Toppin didn’t become shooters overnight. They didn’t stumble into Finals glory. They earned it through thousands of lonely reps, film sessions, tweaks, failures, and restarts.

That’s why their Game 1 explosion hit differently.

It wasn’t just a surprise – it was a celebration. A reminder that even in a league dominated by superstars, there’s still room for the grinders. For the ones who refuse to be boxed in by labels. For the players who keep showing up, keep improving, and – when the moment finally comes – rise to meet it.

Lu Dort and Obi Toppin weren’t supposed to be this. But they believed they could be. And now, with the whole basketball world watching, they are.