A former Miami Heat fan favorite seeks a return to the league, but recently scratched closer.
The Miami Heat have seen a tremendous number of talented players come and go from the organization. They've also helped some revive their careers in the league, such as Victor Oladipo. The former two-time All-Star guard arrived in South Florida in a midseason trade from the Houston Rockets in 2021.
However, after playing in four games after his Heat debut, Oladipo suffered a right knee injury that kept him sidelined for the rest of the season. He then signed a one-year, $2.39 contract to return with the organization.
Oladipo was out for most of the year rehabbing, then played in eight of the last 17 games of the season, finishing with averages of 12.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range.
In the final regular season game, against the Orlando Magic, Oladipo scored 40 points, plus five three-pointers made, along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. He then played a crucial role in the Heat's run to the Eastern Conference Finals, but fell short after seven games against the Boston Celtics.
It was the first time the veteran guard was playing high-quality basketball after suffering a devastating ruptured quad tendon in his right knee towards the end of his Indiana Pacers tenure.
Oladipo then signed a two-year, $18.2 million contract to stay with the Heat. He ended up playing 42 games throughout the 2023 regular season, the most since 2018, and averaged 10.7 points, three rebounds, 3.5 assists, and shot 39.7 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range.
However, Oladipo suffered another devastating injury, a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, in game four of the Heat's first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was able to work off the court, but that was the last time the former lottery pick was seen in the NBA.
Rumors were swirling that Oladipo was considering retirement. However, he publicly stated on his podcast, "The Inner Court," that hanging up the jersey wasn't a thought just yet.
"If you ain't heard it from the horse's mouth, don't believe it," he said. "I'm not retiring, it's just not what I'm doing right now."
The Inner Court S1E1 - Is Victor Oladipo Retiring? NBA Relationships, Mentorship, & More
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Oladipo was recently seen back on the NBA court during the preseason with the Guangzhou Loong-Lions, a professional Chinese team. In three appearances, he averaged 19.3 points, two rebounds, three assists, 2.7 steals, and shot 46.7 percent from the field, but struggled from behind the arc, 25 percent.
The former rising star appeared to remain capable of playing at the highest level of professional basketball.
It was recently reported that Oladipo signed into the G-League player pool and it didn't take long for him to find a team. The Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee Bucks' affiliate, picked him up.
Wisconsin Herd (@WisconsinHerd) on X
2x @NBA All-Star, @VicOladipo, is here! Let’s get to work.
#HerdUp 🦌
Oladipo continues to carve out his path towards a league return for his 11th season. It's worth noting that in the summer, he held a private workout in Las Vegas, and members of the Heat, Pacers, and Cleveland Cavaliers organizations were in attendance. They could be in the mix of interests if Oladipo continues to prove himself in the G-League.
The Pacers currently do not have a roster spot available, but the Cavaliers and Heat do. They could sign Oladipo to a pro-rated veteran minimum contract at a later juncture of the season.
The 33-year-old can sign with any NBA team and could complete a fabulous comeback story.
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