Victor Oladipo

Lore & Background

Oladipo played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers, where in the 2012–13 season he was named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the Co-NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and a first-team All-American by the USBWA and Sporting News. He was drafted second overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic and later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 and then to the Indiana Pacers in 2017. In his first season with Indiana, he became a first-time NBA All-Star, led the league in steals, was named to the All-Defensive First Team and the All-NBA Third Team, and won the NBA Most Improved Player Award. Despite an injury-riddled 2018–19 season, he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the second straight year. In January 2021, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, then dealt to the Miami Heat two months later. He underwent season-ending surgery after just four games with Miami and made his playing return in March 2022.

Reader's Guide

Oladipo is also a singer, having released an EP, Songs for You, in 2017, his debut full-length album V.O. in 2018, and an afrobeats-inspired EP, TUNDE, in 2023. He was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. His parents are originally from Nigeria. He played CYO basketball at St. Jerome Academy and attended DeMatha High School. He played college basketball at Indiana University.

Did You Know?

• Oladipo recorded his first career triple-double on December 3, 2013, with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
• He finished second in the 2013–14 NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
• Oladipo scored a career-high 45 points for the Orlando Magic on March 18, 2016.