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Victor Oladipo to make final decision on national team this summer

By Philip Rossman-Reich

December 2, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Magic 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 2, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Magic 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Victor Oladipo continues to leave the door ever so slightly open that he may suit up for Nigeria in future FIBA competitions.

Victor Oladipo has quickly gotten himself pegged as one of the rising stars in the NBA. Everyone is expecting big things from Oladipo this summer.

The second overall pick from the 2013 Draft has taken a while to come into his own, but the end of his season last year foretold big things. Now it is up to Oladipo to make good on it.

He began doing that when Team USA invited him to their camp this summer in Las Vegas. At the Team USA Showcase, Oladipo led the game with 25 points. It was a glorified scrimmage, but it kept Oladipo on Team USA’s radar.

In all likelihood, neither he nor Tobias Harris will get to play for Team USA this summer. Not unless they really take steps forward or fill that defensive need Mike Krzyzewski wants. That is just not likely in the cards with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, James Harden and Anthony Davis all in the queue to play in Rio next summer.

It could happen, it just seems remote.

Oladipo though does have options. Because his mother is originally from Nigeria, he is eligible under FIBA rules to play for Nigeria in international play. Oladipo has not done so yet because he wants to remain eligible for Team USA. As he tells John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com, that decision is still down the road:

"“Being with Team USA after watching it my whole life, of course you dream of playing with a team like that and on that world stage. Going out there and experiencing that, growing as a player and being around the best players in the world, that was definitely a humbling experience.”[. . .]On possibility of playing with Nigeria: “My mom obviously knows because she pays attention to stuff like that, but she’s never mentioned anything to me about it. I just go out there and play basketball. Whatever decision comes, I’ll make that decision when I need to.”"

So, no, Oladipo is not making any international commitments at the moment. His focus is solely on the upcoming season.

Nigeria, for the record, won Afrobasket this summer and qualified for the 2016 Olympics. As far as anyone is concerned though, Oladipo is still holding out hope of making Team USA. Depending on how things shake out, he and Harris could be realistic options for the 2019 World Cup team considering its proximity to the 2020 Olympics.

As long as the door is open though, it seems Nigeria is willing to try to recruit Oladipo to represent his parents’ homeland. Oladipo has repeatedly said he is Nigerian at the end of the day. The option remains open.

At this stage of the season, Oladipo is happy to represent the U.S. and happy to try to make the team. More importantly for him now, he is focused on preparing for this critical season for him and his team. The Olympics are still a long way off. As is Oladipo’s ultimate decision.

Next: Channing Frye looking to put 'embarrassing' year behind him