Hoping to resume a once-promising career marred by devastating injuries, two-time NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo penned an open letter to the league's general managers in the Players' Tribune asking for another opportunity.
Oladipo, 34, hasn't played in the NBA since April 2023, when he was with the Miami Heat and tore his left patellar tendon.
The former No. 2 overall pick ruptured the quadriceps tendon in his right knee in 2019, and since then hasn't played more than 42 games in an NBA season.
"I believe my body is finally right," Oladipo wrote. "I believe I still have GREAT (and more importantly WINNING) basketball in front of me. I believe I can be a valuable contributor to an NBA locker room. And what I'm asking for right now is an opportunity to prove it."
Oladipo played 26 games last season in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
The former Indiana Pacers All-Star conducted a private pro day workout for front office personnel back in July during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas to assuage concerns regarding his health. Oladipo said in the letter that he draws inspiration for a return to the NBA from his daughter, Naomi -- who he calls "Nomi" -- writing "it's this version, right now that I want Nomi to see."
"She's still so young," Oladipo added. "But as she grows up, and if she's ever in a place where she wants to take lessons from my life or bookmark pages from my story ... I really just hope that this is the one she comes back to the most. I hope that this is the page she can turn to when it's tough times. And I hope that when she does turn to it, she realizes she's strong like her dad ... but also that she's allowed to show weakness like her dad. Because if it's coming from a feeling that's true, it's all strength. And I'm already so proud of her."
In 10 NBA seasons, Oladipo averaged 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals.
"I don't know how my journey here is going to end," he wrote. "Maybe a team out there will give me a chance. Maybe no team will. That's really up to you all. But if you're in an NBA front office, and you took the time to read this: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I can promise you one thing, always, about my basketball story ... from the first page to the last.
"It's a love story."
