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Indiana Basketball: Victor Oladipo named finalist for USA Olympic team

By Alec Lasley

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 05: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Houston Rockets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 05: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Houston Rockets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The former Indiana basketball guard was named a finalist for the USA basketball Olympic team on Monday afternoon.

It has been a crazy past 12 months for former Indiana basketball standout Victor Oladipo, but on Monday afternoon, everything that has happened paid off as he was named a finalist for the USA Olympic team roster. 

One of 44 finalists, Oladipo is tied for the least amount of international experience playing for Team USA in just one game. The Indiana Pacers guard has played in just five games in the 2019-20 season after recovering from a quadriceps tear which he suffered against the Toronto Raptors last season.

The two-time All-Star (2018, 2019) has revitalized his career in Indiana after being on the move over the first few seasons in the league. After averaging 15.9 points per game in his first four years in the NBA, he saw that average rise to 20.9 points per game in the season and a half before his injury.

Team USA is back-to-back Gold Medal winners in the past two Olympics and will look to go for the three-peat this summer with the Summer Olympics taking place from July 24-August 9 in Tokyo, Japan.

While this is a great honor for the former Indiana star, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Oladipo miss out on the opportunity to represent the United States this summer. Still shaking off the rust from not playing for over a full year, taking the summer to get back in shape and get back into his regular offseason schedule would be advantageous going into the 2020-21 NBA season.

Regardless of what happens, this is a great honor for Oladipo and one that is definitely very deserving.

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