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Retrospective: Where does Victor Oladipo rank in Magic all-time shooting guards?

By Brett David Roberts

Mar 12, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets center J.J. Hickson (7) and forward Darrell Arthur (00) defend during the second half at Amway Center. Denver Nuggets defeated the Orlando Magic 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets center J.J. Hickson (7) and forward Darrell Arthur (00) defend during the second half at Amway Center. Denver Nuggets defeated the Orlando Magic 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives past Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives past Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo has played just two seasons for the Orlando Magic, but he has earned his way high on the rankings.

The reason, simply, is that he is more talented than most of the 2-guards in Magic history, perhaps even surprisingly so. Oladipo was billed a primarily a defensive talent when selected No. 2 overall in the 2013 draft, but he has blossomed into a great two-way player.

At times in the 2015 season, he took over games. He outplayed James Harden in a Magic win. And he looked like a guy who could eventually become a franchise talent.

But that is where it gets dicey with Oladipo and the Magic: Is the team still not in search of a legitimate No. 1 option and superstar? Or is Oladipo that guy?

It was easy to go back and forth between thinking he is simply a reserve All-Star type or a future superstar. He was typically at least above-average for his positions, but the actual greatness of Oladipo did not come in sustainable stretches.

Part of that may be due to the lack of talent surrounding him, at this point.  So often defenses could collapse on Oladipo.

Oladipo did become a true shooting guard in his second season, and the Magic experimented far less with him running the show. The main reason that happened is because he drastically improved his shooting and also because the team brought aboard Elfrid Payton to be the point guard of the future.

Together with Payton, Oladipo can help the Magic have one of the best backcourt tandems in the Association. At this point, its future is as bright as Boston’s rotation of Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas. The hope of both groups is to reach the height of Washington and Golden State’s high-scoring backcourts.

The current NBA is a guard-dominated game, and these teams with brilliant young backcourts will be the ones contending. That has to be the hope for the Magic at this point.

Next: #2 Nick Anderson