“I'm in a position where what I say and what I do sounds bizarre” – 2X NBA All-Star believes he’s an influence in the game despite all adversity he has been through
Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo still believes he can be impactful in the NBA. The two-time All-Star will now patiently wait to prove it on the court this season.
Oladipo has experienced a roller coaster of emotions over the last several seasons. The nine-year veteran was blossoming into a star with the Indiana Pacers. He was named to the All-NBA third team and All-Defensive team in 2018. But in the 2018-19 season, the versatile guard suffered a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee.
Since then, Oladipo has struggled to look like the player of old. After being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2021, Oladipo was eventually traded to the Miami Heat months later. He later had another season-ending surgery to repair the same quadriceps tendon.
Fast forward to this summer, and Oladipo re-signed with the Heat on a two-year, $18 million deal. The 30-year-old has yet to make his appearance this season after dealing with a knee injury.
Despite the adversity, Oladipo stays upbeat. Recently on the "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas" podcast, Oladipo spoke about how he still believes in his ability despite the doubters:
"I'm in a position where what I say and what I do sounds bizarre. You've been hurt twice, you've been on five different teams, you so-called fumble the bag ... you had two great years and now you're telling everybody you think you still one of the best players in the world. People think I'm drunk at the bar."
Victor Oladipo hoping to prove himself this season
It's been a long and challenging path for Miami Heat veteran Victor Oladipo. There was a point in which he was viewed as one of the top versatile guards in the NBA.
During his two All-Star seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Oladipo averaged a combined 21.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals. After eventually being traded to the Houston Rockets, Oladipo showed that he still had some ability on the hardwood.
In 20 games with the Rockets, he averaged 21.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 5.0 apg. Things got even more interesting when Oladipo reportedly rejected a two-year, $45.2 million contract extension from the Rockets. Houston instead shipped him to the Miami Heat, who have been patiently waiting for his health to come around.
“I’ve been a starter my whole career. Do I want to start? Yeah. But at the end of the day I’m going to play as hard as I can. I know I’m a starter and I think the whole league thinks I’m a starter, too.”
- Victor Oladipo
(Via MiamiHeat.com) https://t.co/f8oeMUbKQi
There's still hope that the veteran can find his groove with the Heat. If Oladipo can stay healthy, he still has the tools to be an impactful piece for the roster. Oladipo appeared in just eight games with the Heat last season, posting averages of 12.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 3.5 apg.
One of the most promising developments for Oladipo was his play in the playoffs. He showcased that he could still be a dominant defender in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics. He averaged 10.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.1 apg.