Emboldened Victor Oladipo ready to lead down the stretch
By Carson Ingle
With his second career All-Star Weekend in the books, Victor Oladipo feels more confident than ever with the Orlando Magic.
The power of different experiences in one’s life sometimes can be hard to fully comprehend in the moment. In the whirlwind of an All-Star Weekend, magnify that difficulty times 1000.
However, the opportunity to shine on the NBA’s grandest stage in basketball’s biggest mecca of New York City will not be lost on Victor Oladipo. The second-year guard can feel the confidence accrued from being among the sport’s biggest stars.
“It definitely helped,” said Oladipo. “It was great exposure. It just gave me a look at some of great players in our league. I just want to come back and finish the season out strong.”
Oladipo was just coming into his own as the schedule came to its traditional mid-February halt. Over the previous month, he had scored more than 18 points in 10 of 15 games.
This growth and a new boost of energy is what is most important to interim head coach James Borrego. Borrego has been thrust into a role that he probably did not initially desire and now is fighting fervently to keep.
A seismic bump in the games of Oladipo and fellow All-Star Weekend participant, rookie Elfrid Payton could show that all parties are moving in the right direction.
“They were among great players in our league, hall of famers, legends,” said Borrego on his players’ All-Star experience. “Hopefully they see value in that time there that pushes them to be better, to work harder, to want to get to that next level.”
Most NBA fans have perhaps already seen glimpse into Orlando’s future with the way Oladipo acquitted himself throughout the events of the weekend.
On Friday, he tied for a Team USA high 22 points in the Rising Stars Challenge. Then, the Barclays Center was buzzing upon his Frank Sinatra-inspired Dunk Contest entrance which he followed up with several mesmerizing slams.
There has been plenty of feedback from the performance and even though it may have been just an exhibition, Oladipo can take pride in delivering the first meaningful national moments in a new era of Magic basketball.
“I think that 540 (dunk) was pretty cool,” said Oladipo. “I’ve been hearing a lot of stuff about that. The whole entrance I thought was a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun. I thought I did a great job out there representing us. Hopefully I get to do the same thing next year.”
On a weekend marked by glitz and glamour, The exposition of Oladipo’s personality from Friday on was even more important than the showcase of his on-court abilities. Early converts that had already bought in on his charisma were preaching to others about his star potential.
Oladipo already counts the Jordan Brand and Muscle Milk among his sponsors and that list should only grow. Donating his dunk contest prize money to charity also showed another side of who he strives to become as a public figure.
“I think that’s what I was pretty much born to do,” said Oladipo on being a person people gravitate toward. “Just to impact people’s lives in a positive way. I think I have that gift. God has given me that gift. I just have to use it the way I’m supposed to. Continue to just give back and inspire people.”
With 26 regular season games to go, Oladipo’s most pressing item on the agenda is positively influencing his teammates. Already a key figure for leadership on a young team, he wants to show the way for the Magic even more after his meaningful weekend.
There are team goals Oladipo has as well centered on consistency and with the team only seven games out of the final two playoff spots, no limit will be placed on the team’s potential.
“It’s very realistic,” said Oladipo on Orlando’s postseason chances. “Anything is possible. We just have to have a positive mindset and take it one game at a time. Just keep coming out and playing as hard as we can. Hopefully that turns into wins and we can make a run.”
Next: Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 4: Coaching Questions