Is Victor Oladipo the next Russell Westbrook?
By Brett Lauer
Russell Westbrook has been Mr. Triple-Double as of late and has demanded the attention of fans across the NBA, but could the Magic have a player on their roster following in his footsteps?
When Russell Westbrook, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound shooting guard out of UCLA, came into the league seven years ago, people knew he was athletic and talented, but they were unsure about how well he would fit in at the point guard position. Although it took some time, Westbrook has blossomed into an all-star point guard and is considered to be a likely candidate for winning this year’s MVP award.
Like Westbrook, Victor Oladipo received some questions when he joined the league last season. He was mainly considered a shooting guard at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but there was constant mentions of him being used as a point guard too. The Magic continually referred to him only as a guard, hoping he could develop into a combo guard able to run the offense and score off the ball.
As Oladipo’s rookie campaign progressed, he was used more and more as the floor general, with Jameer Nelson serving as his mentor. Many thought he did a commendable job and saw the potential he had at the position.
When the season came to a close, he actually had extremely similar numbers to Westbrook. Take a look at the two player’s rookie statistics below:
| Rk | Player | Season | Age | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Oladipo | 2013-14 | 21 | 80 | 31.1 | .419 | .327 | .448 | .780 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 13.8 |
| 2 | Russell Westbrook | 2008-09 | 20 | 82 | 32.5 | .398 | .271 | .415 | .815 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 15.3 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/11/2015.
Both players have almost identical numbers.
Next, let’s see how year two shaped out for both players:
| Rk | Player | Season | Age | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Oladipo | 2014-15 | 22 | 55 | 34.8 | .452 | .349 | .480 | .826 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 17.5 |
| 2 | Russell Westbrook | 2009-10 | 21 | 82 | 34.3 | .418 | .221 | .438 | .780 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 16.1 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/11/2015.
While Oladipo has not seen an increase in his assists and rebounds per game, he has raised his points per game and is shooting much more efficiently than Westbrook was in year two.
Westbrook’s assist numbers are impressive and part of that could be due to the luxury of playing with Kevin Durant. Also, Oladipo has been playing much more of his natural position this season at shooting guard. Still, there are many reasons to be excited about what fans are seeing out of Victor — especially as of late.
So we have taken a look at the similar statistics, but what about their actual play styles?
Westbrook, is known for his killer instinct mentality on the court, much like Kobe Bryant. He is fearless and wants to win every single possession. He takes the ball to the basket at will, is able to stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper, and can dish the ball to his teammates like the best of them.
However, at times he has been criticized for his carefree shot selection, his inability to get his teammates involved during the course of a game, and his lack of taking care of the ball.
Yet, he is still a very special player and someone you would rather have on your team than going against.
Oladipo, has shown the ability to hit the three this season, much more efficiently than Westbrook at this point in their careers. His driving to the basket has become more effective as he is converting more attempts and he plays with heart the majority of the time.
He is starting to become more aggressive like Westbrook by demanding the ball and taking it the hole.
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Just like Westbrook, Oladipo can find himself getting sucked into making bad turnovers, but, as a positive he is trying to be aggressive and make plays for his teammates. Also, his jump shot can still be rather streaky. But that should be fixed over time.
So, can Victor ever reach the level that Russell has taken his game?
Only time will tell.
As just mentioned, Oladipo needs to become much more consistent with his jump shot. When Westbrook drives down the court and stops for a mid-range shot, it is almost a no-brainer that it will be going in. With Elfrid Payton doing a respectable job at point guard, Victor will continue to see less time handling the ball, which will put a cap on how many assists he can get each night.
Still, he has the ability to raise his points per game and rebounds per game like Westbrook was able to do. Victor has already started the process of becoming a more aggressive player and is really bringing the energy on both ends of the floor. This type of play often translates into extra possessions for the Magic as he has done a good job of forcing turnovers.
No one knows for sure what the future holds for Oladipo as a player, but the future is bright. If he continues to work and put the time in, he definitely has the ability to become at worst case, a Westbrook-lite type player. And that is definitely not a bad thing if you are a fan of the Orlando Magic.