Victor Oladipo’s NBA career has been plagued with injuries since he left the Orlando Magic in 2016. His long list of ailments might have gotten lengthier Thursday night, as the current Miami Heat player landed awkwardly after a dunk.
Victor Oladipo lands after a dunk and holds on to his knee. 🙏 https://t.co/QGpUxatm6R
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) April 9, 2021
Oladipo had to exit the game against the Lakers shortly after, picking up the injury in only his fourth game in South Beach.
Victor Oladipo went to the locker room following his landing after a dunk. pic.twitter.com/2ZPDgXB59e
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 9, 2021
The talented wing was drafted by the Magic with the second overall pick in 2014 after a successful three-year stint as an Indiana Hoosier. He spent his first three years in Orlando where he averaged 15.9 points per game, before departing for Oklahoma City where he played for one season.
Oladipo was traded along with Domantas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers, where he broke out for his new squad. Dipo earned All-Star honors in both of his first two years as a Pacer, after averaging 23.1 points and 2.4 steals in the 2017-18 season, and 18.8 points and 1.7 steals in the following campaign. The deal with the Pacers was only the first of several trades that Oladipo would be involved in throughout his career.
This season, he was involved in the massive three-team deal to send James Harden to Brooklyn, as Oladipo ended up as a Houston Rocket. He played 20 games in Texas before being dealt for the second time in one season to the Heat.
Miami Heat President Pat Riley likely traded for the veteran swingman to provide shooting and defense on the perimeter for his inconsistent squad. Oladipo experienced a 3 point shooting slump while he was in Houston which seems to have carried over to his new team: he connected on just 14.3% of his deep shots through his first three games.
If Oladipo can find some health and consistency, he will become a vital cog in Miami’s well-oiled machine. The team has stuttered after a trip to last year’s NBA finals, but strong performances from players like Oladipo could lead the team back to success.
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