Victor Oladipo is a man robbed of his peak seasons by injuries. In 2017-18, he averaged 23.1 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Pacers, won Most Improved Player and was an All-Star, an All-NBA and an All-Defensive Team player. Then the next season he ruptured his quadriceps tendon, and he was never physically right again. Oladipo, now 34, hasn’t played in the NBA in three seasons.
In an open letter to general managers at The Players Tribune, Oladipo said it took a long time for him to stop chasing what was lost and just be patient and get his body right. He said he is finally in that place, can still contribute to a winning basketball team, and wants that chance.
“Me, in this moment of my life, at 34 years old. The version of her dad that got kicked all the way down the mountain, then spent years trying to climb back up, only to get kicked back down, again and again … but never once quit trying to climb. The version of her dad that, let’s be real, is probably getting counted out by a lot of people, and is probably getting laughed at by a few of them … but has managed to keep his faith, and keep his purpose. The version of her dad that’s finally found the perspective, and the humility, to write a letter like this one.
“To say to any GM who’s willing to listen: I believe my body is finally right. I believe I still have GREAT (and more importantly, WINNING) basketball in front of me. I believe I can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room. And what I’m asking for right now is an opportunity to prove it….
“So that’s where I’m at with everything. I don’t know how my journey here is going to end……. Maybe a team out there will give me a chance. Maybe no team will. That’s really up to you all. But if you’re in an NBA front office, and you took the time to read this: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Oladipo has been linked to Sacramento as a potential backup to rookie Darius Acuff Jr., but nothing official has come of that. Oladipo played in the G League for the Wisconsin Herd part of last season and averaged 13.5 points per game in the regular season, shooting 32.5% from 3-point range. He has also played some in China in recent years.
Oladipo faces the reality many older players do: Most teams would rather give a bench point guard spot (or any position) to a young player they can develop and hold on to for years than to one on the back end of a career. Still, there is a real role for mature, quality veterans in the locker room who can still contribute something on the court.
Whether Oladipo is that guy and gets a chance remains to be seen, but he’s made his pitch.
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