Victor Oladipo shows off his new Orlando Magic jersey.
Photo: AP
“Look how far we came
Through the fire, I stood knowing we would reign
Feels like yesterday when all this was a dream
Through these Maybach curtains I see how life has changed.” – Meek Mill, “Maybach Curtains”
Victor Oladipo was anything but meek when he sang those lyrics after being selected #2 overall in the recent National Basketball Association Draft.
The 21-year-old Oladipo sees how his life has changed as he gets ready to launch his professional basketball career with the Orlando Magic.
Victor Oladipo soars for a dunk while playing for Indiana University.
Photo: Reuters
And Orlando sees an athletic, ball hawking defender who has been compared with Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade.
When asked about the comparisons, Oladipo says, “I don’t know whether it’s fair or it’s just because Tom Crean is my coach. We have similar parts to our game. I’m just trying to be the best Victor Oladipo possible.”
Oladipo has been compared with Dwyane Wade because of his athleticism and tough defense.
Photo: Reuters
Oladipo showed dramatic improvement under Coach Crean in three years at Indiana University, while Wade played for the same coach at Marquette University before being drafted #5 overall in 2003 by the Heat.
Oladipo was born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, not far from Washington, D.C. His father, Chris, is from Sierra Leone, while his mother, Joan, is from Nigeria.
Oladipo is an explosive leaper.
He says his parents told him in order to achieve anything, you have to work hard, and he’ll continue to work hard to help the Magic win games in the NBA.
Orlando has twice made it to the NBA Finals, losing in 2009 to the Los Angeles Lakers and in 1995 to the Houston Rockets. The club is hoping their top draft pick will finally help them lift the trophy.
That would be a Magical moment, and it would definitely give Victor Oladipo something to sing about.