Cody Toppert isn’t a well-known name among casual fans in the NBA, but he’s one of the most important coaches to players trying to break into the league
Cody Toppert, assistant coach of the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande Vipers, is viewed as one of the best developmental coaches in the business. He’s worked out with a bevy of current and former NBA players such as Jae Crowder, Nick Young, Maurice Harkless, DJ Mbenga, Myles Turner and Cleanthony Early, just to name a few. Toppert has had his experience with many players ranging from high school to the professional ranks, courtesy of his former employer: ELEVI8 Sports Institute.
In case you’ve never heard of ELEVI8 Sports: It’s known for its development with athletes in other sports besides basketball, such as baseball and volleyball. Other than their training with high-profile athletes, the institution also focuses on youth. Based in Delray Beach, Florida is their Preparatory Academy starting with middle school all the way until it’s time for the students to start college.
Toppert was with ELEVI8 Sports from the summer 2013 until the fall of 2015, because he was off to the NBA D-league as an assistant. During his tenure there, he was the director of basketball development and coached their basketball team which was sponsored by Nike and peaked nationally at No. 3 during the 2014-15 season. He’s seen and done so much, but what he loves more than anything is developing players.
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All of the players Toppert has trained over the course of his career have been great and obviously have a great work ethic to improve. But like anything else, there are those certain people who shine brighter than others and standout the most. With Toppert, it was Tyler Johnson of the Miami Heat and Terry Rozier of the Boston Celtics.
“We’re very fortunate to work with a lot of guys that have great work ethics. I really haven’t had to work with guys that are prima donnas,” Toppert said on all of the players he’s been able to train.
Tyler Johnson
Johnson is the definition of an individual earning their stripes and paying their dues to make their dreams come true. He went undrafted during the 2014 NBA Draft, after completing a four-year career at Fresno State. Despite not being one of the sixty players selected, Johnson spent that summer becoming a better player and growing an addiction to the gym. With the help of Toppert, Johnson was able to undergo rigorous and unique workouts with ELEVI8.
“Tyler Johnson is my favorite NBA player to train,” Toppert began to say on his adulation towards Johnson.”
After spending the summer of 2014 working out with Toppert, in which he refined and improved his game, Johnson was off to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to play for the D-league’s Skyforce. While there, he established himself as a consistent player with an All-Around approach to the game. It hook him just 15 games before the Skyforce’s lead-man to be called-up to the affiliated Miami Heat on a 10-Day contract after averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists for their minor league team.
“Tyler, obviously an undrafted guy, that makes the Heat team and had success. He’s humbled and hungry, and that’s why I think he’s going to have a long career.”
As a product of ELEVI8, Johnson would continue to have success with Miami. He signed a two-year deal with the team back in February of 2014, and has become a key rotation player with them during the 2015-16 season averaging 24.0 minutes a contest. Right now he’s been a little injury plagued, but his work ethic and play has made him earn a spot in the league and fan favorite to ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy.
"“He’s a good basketball player,” Van Gundy started to say on Johnson during the Knicks-Heat broadcast from January 6th. “Can play either guard spot. Shoots it, drives it.”“That’s my guy, I love this guy,” Van Gundy said. “I love everything about him as a player. This guy is tough.”"
Mark Jackson, Van Gundy’s partner in crime on A-list games, also chimed in on Johnson giving him high praise.
"“I like that he has the ability to play either backcourt position, so versatile,” Jackson said."
Johnson’s rise and journey to the NBA is one of those feel-good stories fans hear and read about a few times per season. He’s an important cog for a team that could compete for a championship when healthy and consistent. His work ethic throughout his life and time with ELEVI8 has helped him to where he is today.
Terry Rozier
Entering his sophomore season at Louisville, Rozier, was pegged as being a second-round pick during the 2015 NBA Draft. Hearing the chatter of being a late draft-pick and missing out on a guaranteed contract of being a first-round could be fuel for some. Rozier worked with Toppert to improve his draft stock which led to him being selected No. 16 overall. His work inside the gym elevated him from second-rounder to Top-20 and borderline lottery pick.
“He was the guy that shot-up the boards the most this year,” Toppert began saying on Rozier. “I mean going sixteen to Boston is no small feat. Especially when people were saying something about him in the second-round. Some people had him from anywhere from twenty-five to thirty. To go sixteen, I mean that just tells you what he did in the process; tells you how impressive he was in the workouts. That just tells you how prepared he was.”
Rozier’s reputation as pesky defender with a charged up body of energy got him known. Offensively, his finishing ability to get to the rim and finish with his athleticism served as a boon with his body of work.
It’s too early to tell and make weekly projections on Rozier, mainly due to the fact that he’s on a playoff team in Boston with a point guard rotation already set with Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart.
With that being said, Rozier has gotten most of his reps in with the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics’ D-league affiliate. He’s averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds in fourteen games this season. Rozier’s great play is bright spot for himself, and a reflection upon his work ethic. He’s only a rookie and time will only tell if he’ll have a similar transition and story to Johnson.
“Tyler and Terry are pretty much my favorites,” Toppert said. “That’s because they are just sponges. Two guys that will get up early in the morning to go train — they’re not prima donnas — there’s no ego involved. For these guys it’s all about the process.”
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“Terry and Tyler are guys that have the best work ethic.”
ELEVI8 Sports, and Toppert continue to help players improve their game. Johnson and Rozier are guys who could fall under the category of having a slim chance of making the NBA. Both were aware, and had that hunger inside them to make it and become great.
Right now their dreams have come true, and they’re only getting better. The question now is this: who will be the next product to enter the NBA?