If you were to ask anyone around the league last summer, the conventional wisdom was that the Thunder had made out like bandits in the Paul George trade. That was largely because Victor Oladipo had been so underwhelming in his lone season in Oklahoma City that the front office didn’t hesitate to use him as trade fodder.
One year later, Oladipo is now an All-Star, the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the Pacers’ de facto franchise cornerstone, and one of the league’s hottest rising stars. To the casual fan, it probably seems as if the basketball gods reached down and blessed him with the Midas touch.
But that would do a big disservice to all the hard work, discipline, and fearlessness that it took on his part to so drastically alter the trajectory of a career that was quickly veering off course. Things certainly clicked into place for him in Indiana last season, but it was the result of bold decision-making that was not without significant risks.
Via J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star:
“I push the envelope. I play nothing safe now,” Oladipo says. “I’m the guy if we’re down two, I’m pulling up for three. I work too hard to not push the envelope. I used to be conservative but that really didn’t get me anywhere.”
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“I decided to take control on and off the court and really make decisions that are best for me instead of relying on other people,” Oladipo says. “It’s about growth, getting a little wiser, a gray hair here or there. I’m trying to grow up.”
The aforementioned on-court results already speak for themselves, and a major catalyst for that was a physical transformation that stemmed from changing his diet and exercise regimen.
Oladlipo isn’t afraid to let if fly off the court as well. Last summer, he fired his agent and assembled a public relations team to develop his brand and bring it to a much wider audience. Oladipo is well known for his love of music and is currently working on recording a studio album. His team is also hard at work on landing him more endorsement deals.
Going into next season, Oladipo and the Pacers are hoping to build off of some of that unexpected success from last year, when they rattled off 48 wins and took the Cavs to Game 7 in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The East is as wide open as ever with LeBron’s departure to Los Angeles, and Oladipo and the Pacers are more than ready for the challenge.
