Victor Oladipo Nickname Options (Poll!)
By RJ Infantino
It’s time. Time for a Victor Oladipo nickname discussion. Not every player needs one of course. Forcing one can be disasterous. But when it’s right, when it’s natural, a nickname can be a wonderful thing. King James. CP3. Black Mamba. Victor Oladipo?
It’s a little surprising that Oladipo doesn’t have a nickname yet. With his blend of dervish athleticism and intense work ethic, he’s a fan favorite, and a prime suspect for a nickname. The reason he doesn’t is probably because he was a late bloomer. Lightly recruited out of high school, he didn’t emerge as a legitimate draft prospect until his junior year of college. Fair or not, role players don’t get nicknames. It’s also possible that his name is so unique that fans didn’t think he needed one. Victor Oladipo. Sounds like a Spanish conquistador.
Jan 8, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) has a dunk attempt blocked by Orlando Magic shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
A nickname emerges out of a player, not the other way around. It has to fit like a glove (hello Gary Payton) and emerge from a player’s style of play and attitude. Let’s play word association with Oladipo for a moment: defense, dunk, explosion, hard-working, blocks, super-duper. There’s potential there. Let’s test out some nicknames and see how they fit.
“D”
Sometimes it’s not that complicated. This one is derived from the hard “d” in Oladipo and his suffocating athleticism. It’s easy to say and easier to remember. It’s perfect for locker room conversations, but leaves something to be desired in the stands. Not as impactful when you’re only chanting one syllable.
“Depot”
What comes to mind when you think of Home Depot? Hard work, all the tools, and everything you’re looking for to get the job done. Does this describe Oladipo on the court or what? It’s almost too easy with that last name of his.
“Cinco-dipo”
More phonetics, with a Spanish twist. Always nice when you can get a players number in there, but the number doesn’t really seem to define him as a player (he wore #4 in college). Not a prime contender, but would be great on Latino night.
“Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!”
There really should be more chanting in American sports, and Oladipo would be a prime candidate for the traditional soccer song. Imagine Oladipo nailing a three, running back on D with the arena rocking the “Ole.” Spine-tingling.
Other Options
In his twitter handle he goes by Vic. That’s nice, unassuming, and probably what he would like to go by. But we’re the fans, we have a say darnit! His Mom was a basketball player and her nickname was “Bird”, which could be interesting. Maybe some variation like Falcon for his soaring dunks? And of course there’s the lazy Dwayne Wade comparison, but Magic fans don’t want to give any homage to their south beach rivals. He also called himself SpongeBob during the off-season for all the learning he was doing, and that’s kinda cute.
So what do you think? What is the best option for a Victor Oladipo nickname? Take our poll and let us know in the comments section below!