Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Hoosiers history

By Josh Yourish

Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) shoots the ball over New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) in the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) shoots the ball over New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) in the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 best Indiana basketball NBA career: Victor Oladipo

  • Drafted: 2013 No. 2 overall
  • NBA games played: 504
  • NBA PPG: 16.9
  • 2017-18 NBA Most Improved Player
  • 2017-18 All-NBA
  • 2017-18 All-Defensive team
  • 2x All-Star

Victor Oladipo made just two All-Star games in his career, less than the Van Arsadales, but his 2017-18 season with the Indiana Pacers was a peak, much higher than either of those guys reached. In fact, it was a peak higher than most of the NBA greats of the 2000s ever reached.

After being sent to Indiana as part of the Paul George trade with Oklahoma City, Oladipo was on his third team in five seasons in the NBA, but he thrived back in Indiana. He averaged 23.1 points in the regular season and led Indiana to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference at 48-34.

In the playoffs, he took it up a notch. The Pacers drew the  Cavaliers in Round 1, but instead of rolling over, Oladipo went toe-to-toe with Lebron. The Pacers went up 2-1 and after falling down 3-2 managed to force a Game 7. Oladipo had 30 points in Game 7, but the Pacers lost by four.

That series was the height of his career, but Oladipo was an All-Star again the next season. Injuries zapped his athleticism and will ultimately shorten his career.

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