Victor Oladipo, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, announced that he is fully healthy and ready to return to the league after a series of serious knee injuries kept him off the court since the 2023‑24 season.
Open letter to NBA front offices
In a heartfelt open letter published in The Players’ Tribune, Oladipo appealed directly to NBA general managers, stating, “I believe my body is finally right. I believe I still have GREAT (and more importantly WINNING) basketball in front of me. I believe I can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room. And what I’m asking for right now is an opportunity to prove it.”
The 34‑year‑old guard highlighted his career achievements, including two All‑Star selections with Indiana in 2017‑18 and 2018‑19, and career averages of 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals over 504 games.
Injury history and recent activity
Oladipo’s comeback journey has been hampered by major injuries: a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his right knee in January 2019 and a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in April 2023. Since the 2017‑18 season, he has not played more than 42 games in a single year.
He recently held a private workout for NBA front‑office personnel during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and spent part of last season with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, showing that he can still compete at a high level.
Looking ahead
“I don’t know how my journey here is going to end,” Oladipo wrote. “Maybe a team out there will give me a chance. Maybe no team will. That’s really up to you all. But if you’re in an NBA front office, and you took the time to read this: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I can promise you one thing, always, about my basketball story … from the first page to the last. It’s a love story.”
Oladipo’s letter underscores his determination to return to the NBA and contribute to a winning culture. As teams evaluate roster needs for the upcoming season, his health status and veteran experience could make him an attractive low‑risk, high‑reward option.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
