By now, Victor Oladipo has trained Pacers fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He’ll hit a big, late-game shot as he already has several times through 26 games, and they help him celebrate.
26 games in, the Pacers improved to 9-4 at home and 15-11 overall by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-102. They were led by Oladipo, who finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
So after he delivered a 30-foot step-back 3-pointer with 1:01 left that put the Pacers, who mostly trailed, ahead by six, it was time for what has become his signature celebration.
[smiles] … “Haha, yeah … I guess so,” he said afterwards. “I mean the crowd does it so I do it right back. They know what time it is, I know what time it is.”
Oladipo points down with both hands and just smiles. He lets the crowd take it from there.
This is my city.
You know what it is. pic.twitter.com/OBvcuAoRwY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 9, 2017
“I don’t say it. They say it. I don’t say anything, I just do the gesture. They do the rest of the work for me.
“We feed off them. When they’re in it, we play better. I don’t know why, it’s just how basketball has always been. They’re our sixth man and we need them every night, every night we play in this building.”
“He’s having a really, really good year for his team,” LeBron James said after seeing his team’s 13-game win streak snapped. “He’s gotten the opportunity from Nate McMillan … and they’ve given him the confidence to go out, no matter make or miss, to get a good look and keep shooting.”
Oladipo genuinely loves the fans and this city. pic.twitter.com/2H8A9L1ARF
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 9, 2017