Two Flyers, two rosters, one shared message: Dayton produces NBA contributors. In the opening week of the 2026–27 season, Toumani Camara and Obi Toppin both announced themselves as players their respective teams can count on — and alumni back in Dayton had plenty to watch.
Camara Anchors Portland's Hot Start
The Trail Blazers are unbeaten, and Camara is part of the reason why. In Portland's blowout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday — a 124–83 rout that featured Ja Morant's debut alongside Damian Lillard — Camara delivered 18 points, 3 assists, and a jaw-dropping +32 plus/minus in just 22 minutes. That number isn't a misprint. He was on the floor for everything good that night.
Then came the harder test. On Saturday in Sacramento, Portland survived a scare to beat the Kings 128–120, with Camara grinding out 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in 27 minutes. The efficiency dipped slightly — he finished at -3 — but the production held. Back-to-back 18-and-19-point performances in the season's first week puts Camara firmly in the conversation as one of Portland's most reliable contributors on a suddenly interesting roster.
Toppin Reminds Everyone What He Can Do
Obi Toppin's relationship with New York may be complicated, but his value to Indiana is becoming clearer by the game. In the Pacers' season-opening 123–120 win over the Pelicans on Thursday, Toppin came off the bench to score 20 points with 3 rebounds and 2 steals in 24 minutes — a difference-making performance that helped Indiana hold on in a tight one. With Tyrese Haliburton back healthy after last season's Achilles tear, the Pacers have real expectations again, and Toppin looks ready for the moment.
Friday was rougher: Indiana fell to Dallas 105–121, and Toppin's +/- of -9 reflected a tough team night more than an individual collapse. He still put up 13 points and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes, showing the kind of steady floor presence a reserve forward needs to sustain minutes. Two games in, Toppin is trending as exactly the energetic, scoring punch off the bench Indiana will need in a competitive Eastern Conference.
The Rest of the Flyers
DaRon Holmes II logged a single minute for Denver in Friday's loss to Oklahoma City, posting a +5 in a brief cameo. The second-year center is still developing his role with the Nuggets. Koby Brea (Suns) and Jalen Crutcher (Magic) did not appear in the source data for this period.
The story of Dayton's week in the NBA is really a two-man show — and both men delivered. Camara is building toward a breakout in Portland. Toppin is proving he belongs on a playoff-caliber roster. For a mid-major program in southwest Ohio, that's a week worth celebrating.
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