Key Takeaways
- Victor Oladipo hasn't played in the NBA since 2023, but sources tell RG he's eyeing a comeback.
- The former All-Star took part in 5-on-5 workouts at Summer League in Las Vegas and impressed scouts and execs.
- Oladipo was once one of the top two-way players in the Association before he suffered numerous serious injuries.
Oladipo in action (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Two-time NBA All-Star and 2018 Most Improved Player Victor Oladipo is mounting a determined push for an NBA return. Over the weekend in Las Vegas, while a large contingent of team executives, scouts, and agents were in town for NBA Summer League, Oladipo participated in workouts and 5-on-5 runs in front of team personnel.
With decision-makers already gathered in one place, the setting gave Oladipo an ideal opportunity to showcase his progress. His performance was part of a deliberate effort to demonstrate that he’s healthy, sharp, and ready to contribute at the NBA level again.
One source who attended the private workout and 5-on-5 runs in Las Vegas offered a clear takeaway from Oladipo’s performance.
“He looked good and explosive. I could see him helping a team,” one source in attendance told RG. “He can still hoop. He’s in shape and wants it.”
Oladipo, 33, last played during the 2022-23 season with the Miami Heat, appearing in 42 games and averaging 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals. A former No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, he has played for five franchises: Orlando, Oklahoma City, Indiana, Houston, and Miami.
At his peak with the Indiana Pacers, Oladipo earned All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors, establishing himself as one of the league’s top two-way guards. After multiple surgeries on both quadriceps tendons, his trajectory changed.
In addition to his physical recovery, Oladipo has taken a mental and spiritual approach to his comeback. He’s repeatedly stated that he is not retiring, and sources say he is eager to play a role for a team, aiming to serve as a mentor while also contributing on the court.
Oladipo has career averages of 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals over 504 NBA games. He’s a career 43.6% shooter from the field and 34.7% from three.
With the right fit, perhaps Oladipo could soon find himself back on an NBA roster, ready to help a team on and off the floor.
