2012-13 with Indiana
13.6 PPG
2.1 APG
2.2 SPG
6.3 RPG
0.8 BPG
The fact that Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo could fall to the fifth overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft is shocking when considering the numbers he put up in his junior season. However, history is a broken record with an uncanny knack to repeat itself.
Yes, we all know it’s “ironic” that the Cleveland Cavaliers received the first overall pick ten years after drafting LeBron James – also for the second time in three years – but think back to that 2003 NBA Draft and pan back a few spots from James.
Sitting pretty in that fifth slot was the Miami Heat, who welcomed a 6’-4” 212 lb shooting guard with great athleticism and pesky hands to its roster.
Oladipo has a chance to be the next Dwyane Wade, but like every draft prospect a floor counters his high ceiling. Most likely, Oladipo has a higher floor than other prospects.
The now former Hoosier posted 13.6 points a game this past season, but did it efficiently, shooting 59.9 percent from the field. Wade dropped about 21 points in each contest during his last year at Marquette, his sophomore year, but shot about 200 more times than Oladipo.
Both players have a tendency to attract the ball off the rim on the offensive glass, despite where they are on the floor. Oladipo, like Wade, has a natural ability to be in the right spot at the right time to create second-chance opportunities.
The biggest comparison is their athleticism. Oladipo’s vertical leap is a bit more impressive than Wade’s was, but that’s irrelevant. Oladipo can adjust in mid-air and put the ball through the bucket. He’s essentially an acrobat in transition. With a point guard capable of orchestrating the fast break, Oladipo will thrive on getting out in transition.
His fundamentals in transition are on another level compared to the other lottery prospects. Oladipo fills the correct lanes in transition, never running to the three-point line, and he takes hard, direct angles to the basket, exploding to the rim. When he gets to the line he’s average, with a free-throw percentage of just 74.6 percent last season. What’s encouraging is this was about a 13-percent increase from his freshman year, indicating he could continue to improve in this area.
Oladipo’s biggest strength is his defensive ability. His awareness getting around screens is impeccable. He senses the pick coming and takes a hard step to cut off the ball handler. His precise, quick footwork allows him to dip under screens and wash away lanes to the basket. Oladipo combines all of that with active, persistent hands that swarm the ball handler. He averaged 2.2. steals a game and had a defensive rating of 86.9 (points allowed per 100 possessions), according to Sports-reference.com.
Every player has areas to improve upon. Oladipo desperately needs to improve his offensive IQ and passing. Many times with Indiana when he tried to isolate his defender, Oladipo was forced into a double team because he never saw his teammates sliding along the perimeter waiting for the extra pass. When he learns to swing the ball out of those traps, his assists will go up.
His ball handling needs work as well, but as he improves that his ability to create his own shots will sky rocket. Oladipo often brings the ball too high in his dribble and lacks confidence with his left hand, getting the ball poked away at times when crossing over. Right now, he relies on speed and agility to get to the basket, and he doesn’t have a go-to move.
His shooting has improved, but it reamins to be seen how his shooting percentage is affected once he takes 100 threes. He might not be able to keep up that 44.1 percent from behind the arc that he gave Indiana Head Coach Tom Crean – who coincidentally coached Wade at Marquette. Oladipo has a steady, smooth stroke with hardly any hitch in his shot. His release is definitely quick enough for the NBA. Now, it comes down to muscle memory.
Overall, Oladipo has the potential to be the next great two-guard in the league. His strength and quickness will even allow him to slide down to small forward in some instances. He’s easily a top-five pick and can dictate the future for any of the lottery teams.
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