If you look closely, there’s a gallon jug of water near the hardwood at the St. Vincent Center whenever the Pacers are practicing. Or in the weight room. It’s in Victor Oladipo’s hand occasionally during media interviews. And he’s carrying it while he steps up and onto the team plane.
Oladipo made significant changes to his body and mind this summer well before he was dealt for the second time in a year. That trade part, yet again, stays with him. It’s motivation. Maybe it always will be.
The change got real for him in mid-May, about two weeks after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season came to an end in the first round of the NBA Playoffs to the Houston Rockets.
He went to Miami, started working out with David Alexander who works with Dwyane Wade, among many others, and helped Vic earn a cut physique in just three weeks.
One daily habit that he changed was Oladipo’s daily consumption of water. Health experts suggest that the average person drinks about half their weight in water each day.
Oladipo talks to the media with his gallon of water in hand.
For the 25-year-old, at about 210 pounds, that meant about 105 ounces per day, plus additional water and electrolytes before, during, and after working out.
Wherever he goes, a bottle of water isn’t far. To make drinking and consuming more water easier, Oladipo carries a gallon jug almost everywhere. (One gallon is 128 fluid ounces.)
“It’s not as difficult as it seems,” he said.
“I just drink. Every time I get thirsty I drink. It’s like when you keep drinking a gallon a day, you get more thirsty. It’s pretty weird. I get thirsty a lot now.”
With a much greater opportunity, Oladipo is easily having the best season of his career – an All-Star season. And twice he’s been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
He’s averaging a team-high 23.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game — all career marks. He’s also shooting almost 47 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from range. Again, both are better than before.
It’s a small adjustment that can pay dividends on the court.
Wherever he goes, a gallon of water is likely within reach. His thirst for water — and success — is real.
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