16 minutes after his season came to an end in the biggest game that he’s ever played, Victor Oladipo was already thinking about getting better.
Who needs time off?
“I don’t know how to take time off,” Oladipo said a short while after the Pacers’ 105-101 Game 7 loss in Cleveland. He finished with a team-high 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in 42 minutes.
It’s that never-satisfied mentality that helped fuel his breakout 2017-18 season that will result in him being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player on June 25th at the league’s annual award show.
“I’m happy Vic’s on my team, I’ll tell you that much,” Cory Joseph said earlier this season.
Beyond the hard work he puts into himself and the team, this is the best way to explain Oladipo’s breakout season — from Oladipo:
“It just feels amazing when somebody wants you, when people believe in you, believe in your talent, the hard work and are invested in you, it’s a blessing, man. It’s no other better feeling than that. I believe in myself but to have your teammates, your coaches, and a city believe in you too, it just makes every day that much sweeter.”
LeBron James on Oladipo: “Unbelievable jump from this year to this year. We all saw it, and he proved why he’s a franchise-caliber player and everybody on down. They just have a well-rounded team.”
Here’s an example of the type of work Oladipo did with Alexander, who works with James, Dwyane Wade, James, and more:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUHmGA7F0Yz/