#Knicks’ Obi Toppin making defense priority from the start

Setting conditioning-drill records is a solid start.

But Obi Toppin, the 6-foot-9 forward selected No. 8 overall by the Knicks in last month’s draft, knows the only thing that will get him on the court a lot is if he reverses his reputation as a mediocre defender. Coach Tom Thibodeau is already living up to his reputation.

Day 1 of Thibodeau’s first group practice in Tarrytown was highlighted by a lecture that began and ended with defense as priority.

“Honestly just playing defense,’’ Toppin said when asked about Thibodeau’s main message Sunday. “Playing defense is going to help us win games. Everybody on our team has the ability to score the ball. We just got to lock in on the defensive side and stay connected. All of us are great players and we’re here for a reason. If we lock in on the defensive side, the offense is just going to come.’’

The scoring forward from Dayton won several college player of the year awards because of his offense (20 ppg, 63.3 field-goal percentage). He entered training camp in magnificent shape and the hope is it will translate to the defensive end.

The Post reported the Cavaliers, the NBA’s worst defensive team the past two years, passed on Toppin at No. 5 to go with elite defender Isaac Okoro because they were concerned about Toppin’s D.

The position Toppin can best defend in the NBA is a mystery and a looming issue in regard to his fit on the roster. The Knicks’ best player, Julius Randle, plays the same power-forward position.

Can Toppin defend the 3? Or the 5? Some scouts think he’s not bulky enough to defend the interior or has quick enough feet to be a stopper at small forward.

“I feel like coach Thibs is a great coach and if he puts me at the 5, he believes I can play the 5,’’ Toppin said. “I believe I can play the 5. If he puts me at the 4, the 3, he’s a smart guy, he knows I can play that position. And he’s not going to put me in position to fail. So I understand that him and the team is always going to make sure that I’m successful.’’

Last week, the 22-year-old late bloomer revealed he set the franchise record for best time on a conditioning drill, which consisted of sprints.

“We just had to run up/backs full court,’’ Toppin said. “I believe it’s like 10 times in under a minute. I’ve done plenty of them doing it with [Kenny Payne]. So me running up and down with the guys, my wind is perfectly fine. I hardly get tired. I’m pretty ready on the conditioning side.”

It’s also a good sign Toppin is learning a new offense not dissimilar to the one he used in college.

“I don’t feel like it’s a lot, just because a lot of the things we’re doing here is similar to Dayton,’’ Toppin said. “It’s definitely new plays and new terminologies that I need to learn. But coach Thibs and the guys we have here are helping me through that. I feel like when the time comes for me to step on the court, I’ll be ready.’’

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Knicks second-year man, RJ Barrett, believes the Nets hiring his godfather, Steve Nash, as head coach was a good move. It was stunning to everyone else. Nash and Barrett’s father, Rowan, were Team Canada teammates.

“I said congratulations, talked a couple times,’’ Barrett said. “I’m happy for him, I’m excited. He really loves basketball and I feel like he’s going to help them out a lot. He’s always been a leader. He led all his teams in the NBA, a two-time MVP. So I think he’ll be fine.”

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The players are learning about a lot of road restrictions because of COVID-19, including being discouraged from randomly leaving the hotel. Six of the Knicks’ first eight regular-season games are on the road. The Knicks open their preseason with two games in Detroit starting Friday.

“I’ve heard there’s a lot of new rules coming out,’’ Toppin said. “We’re all still learning from it. I heard that when we go on the road we’re not going to be able to go to certain restaurants, leave hotels. There are certain protocols that we’re not going to be able to do.”