Victor Oladipo published an open letter seeking another chance in the NBA, writing with clarity about what the past several years of injury and recovery have cost him and what his daughter has given him as a reason to keep trying.
The former Indiana Pacers All-Star and No. 2 overall pick ruptured his quadriceps tendon in his right knee in 2019 and has not played more than 42 games in a season since. He played 26 games last season in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Oladipo also conducted a private workout for NBA front office personnel during Summer League in Las Vegas in July to demonstrate his health.
Oladipo wrote that he believes his body is finally right and that he still has great and winning basketball ahead of him. He said he believes he can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room and asked for the opportunity to prove it.
He closed the letter by addressing NBA front offices directly, saying he did not know how his journey would end, that a team may give him a chance or may not, but that if anyone took the time to read his letter he was grateful. He described his basketball story, from the first page to the last, as a love story.
What the injuries meant
The quadriceps tendon rupture in 2019 was one of the most severe injuries Oladipo had experienced, and the recovery was extended. He returned to play but was never able to sustain full seasons, limited by subsequent injuries and by the physical aftermath of the original tear. The arc from two-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate to journeyman trying to get back into the league has been one of the more difficult player storylines of the past several years.
In 10 NBA seasons, Oladipo averaged 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. At his peak with the Pacers, he was one of the more electrifying two-way players in the Eastern Conference.
What his daughter means to this
The most moving section of the letter focused on his daughter, Naomi, whom he calls Nomi. He wrote that she is still very young, but that as she grows up, if she ever wants to take lessons from his life or look at the pages of his story, he hopes this is the one she comes back to most. He said he hopes she can turn to this page when times are tough and realize she is strong like her father. He also wrote that she is allowed to show weakness like her father because if it comes from a feeling that is true, it is all strength. He said he is already so proud of her.
The path to a roster
Oladipo is 33 years old. A player of his caliber seeking a training camp opportunity at this stage of his recovery faces real obstacles. NBA roster spots are limited, and teams with playoff expectations will not take significant availability risks on players who have been unable to stay healthy. A team building around development or one that needs a specific skill set may be more willing to give him a look.
The private workout during Summer League was designed to address the health concern directly, by having scouts and front office personnel assess him in person. Whether that translated into interest is the question the Oladipo letter is trying to answer.
