Who says media day in the NBA says declarations in all directions. And if in Miami most of the microphones and the objectives were placed on the Heat of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry, a forgotten boy from the lot nevertheless has a lot to play for in the coming season. Indeed, Victor Oladipo is light years away from his All-Star level, and he has the possibility of closing a lot of mouths in Florida.

What a fall. What a terrible fall, for a player who made so many people dream in the recent NBA. Remember this season blessed by the gods, the famous regular 2017-18. In Indiana, after a particularly legendary preview on a little-known French YouTube channel, Nate McMillan's Pacers made an astonishing journey with, at their head, a boy who was finally reaching his potential. Mr Victor Oladipo. Sir, this is my home. Monsieur says hello to the ranking of the best backs in the world and bangs his fist hard on the table. While we had seen him in a more discreet register in Orlando then OKC, Totor finally had the keys to a franchise in his hands and decided to shock the basketball world. Money-time on money-time, big performance on big performance, with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on average in Indiana by stealing more than 2 balls per game, Oladipo had become a respected All-Star finally at the height of his talent. The fans were tearing it up, and better yet, the Pacers were getting sexy. Beaten in seven games by the Cavs of a LeBron king of his Eastern Conference, the friends of Myles Turner returned determined the following season… but nothing will be as before. A horrific injury to Oladipo on January 24, 2019 will literally shake up the player's career, as well as the trajectory of the Indianapolis franchise. A comeback of several months? Not too successful, and derailed confidence. The return to the floors? So so, lack of rhythm, NBA season which stops in the middle of the 2020 campaign, and the bubble which does not bring anything good. More and more distant from the priorities of the Pacers, and rightly so since he seemed light years away from his level of yesteryear, Pipo no longer even had the head to play for his team, that of the state where he has did his university education.

The following ? We know her sadly well. Indiana denies the transfer requests of its rear, James Harden feels rather elsewhere than in Texas, and in a huge deal with several teams it is in the direction of… Houston precisely that Victor Oladipo will pack his bags. Make way for Caris LeVert, thank you for the kif of the 2017-18 season, wishing you good luck for your next adventures. Alas, again, it's not going to go perfectly for the slasher. Twenty games at the Rockets, not too bad by the way, but the explosiveness is not there and neither is the future. Ahead of a summer which was to feel the beautiful free agency for him, Oladipo is once again transferred and it is in Miami that we find the man. Even if it means doing things well, bad luck will add a little extra layer since Victor will play only 4 games with the Heat before injuring his knee… The straw that broke the camel's back, but as the person concerned told it this Monday at the media day of his franchise, there is hope in all of this. Hope of what? And good to show that he can still play, shut mouths, and make a big comeback at the same time.

What we can applaud, already, is the way in which Oladipo has decided to approach things. Let's say that in Miami, the door is open to those who want to redo, but you have to roll up your sleeves and go to the front. Cleverly, moreover. Suddenly, instead of being greedy on the free agent market this summer, Victor was able to breathe a blow, assume his situation and seize the hand extended by the Heat: a one-year contract at least guaranteed, which would have been heresy if it had been contemplated two years ago. But it is also in this approach that the great returns are made! When we see how Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose or Dwight Howard, for example, have raised the bar and cleaned up the script around them, we hope it will happen the same way around Totor. One thing is certain, the approach is good and the possibility of expressing oneself is real. Because behind a sparkling major 5, the Heat will have to rely on Oladipo to blast the bench alongside Tyler Herro, and given Miami's goals this season there is a real chance that Victor will change the image we have. him for two years now.

You know what they say in the jargon: in any case, we wish you well. Victor Oladipo has a great challenge to embrace this season, that of remembering how strong he is in basketball, how much he can help a winning team, and how intelligently we can return to the front of the stage, humility and determination. Everything is in place for the comeback of the year.

Source: 5 Reasons Sports