Victor Oladipo scores 11 points after Miami Heat applauds defender’s long journey back from injury

Because Victor OladipoThe difference here is night and day.

The Heat The guard made his season debut on Monday night in Miami nearly 11 months after he took his final step up an NBA court. Oladipo has battled a second quadriceps injury that has limited him for the past three NBA seasons. But when he returned to the floor after a rehabilitation process, he could feel the difference in his body.

“I’m still getting stronger. Still getting better,” he said after last Monday’s 123-106 win. Houston Rockets. “It was a great first round, feet wet. But I’m excited and looking forward to the year. Just keep getting better. It’s not always perfect but that’s okay.

“My mentality will always be the same. I’ve been resilient since I can breathe. I won’t stop now.”

Oladipo finished with 11 points and four assists against the Rockets. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team placed him as man of the match in the dressing room and that night itself was a celebration of the long way Oladipo had to fight.

“Only athletes really understand what it is like when you get injured and you have to deal with all the frustration and dead time backstage,” says Spoelstra. “But he handled it in a very positive way. Physically he’s in a much better place than where he was last year. I think looking back on it, you’re really surprised. that he was able to do what he was able to do. one foot in the last two seasons. That’s very welcome for everyone.”

Oladipo began his post-match press conference by thanking his teammates, coaching staff, athletics coaching staff and personal coaching staff as well as his family for helping him get back on the field.

“It takes a village,” he said. “There’s a lot of people working behind the scenes who you don’t see to help me play at the highest level. Those are the real MVPs.”

Oladipo signed up with 1:55 left in the first quarter to a standing ovation from the FTX Arena crowd. And it didn’t take long for him to make an impact on the defence. In possession of the defense for the first time, Oladipo stood in front of rookie Houston Alperen Sengun and scored a goal, making his teammates and fans extremely happy.

Spoelstra said he thinks Oladipo’s impact on defense will come faster than anything else.

“The insult and the rhythm and everyone’s on the same page, that’s going to take a while. I totally get that,” Spoelstra said. “But defensively, he’s strong. So he’s going to be a lot closer to what he had four years defensively just because he’s got two strong legs.”

It took a while for Oladipo to start but his first goal came with 7:31 remaining in the second half when Kyle Lowry threw a pass into the corner with Oladipo, who drew 3 pointers. When Oladipo retested the game in the third quarter, he also started by making plays right away. He drove the baseline and threw a pass to Dewayne Dedmon for a dunk and follow up by drawing another charge at the top of the defense. After he hit a scoop with 1:00 left in the inning, the Heat crowd exploded into an “O-LA-DI-PO” song.

“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s unbelievable. No words can really describe it,” Oladipo said upon hearing the chants. “I appreciate them for doing it. It made that moment all the more special. Unfortunately, last year ended the way it did. But they really were better days at home. ahead. I’m optimistic and looking forward to it.”

Perhaps the best example of Oladipo looking like himself came in the fourth quarter. 10:14 left, he dribbled the ball to the right and received the pass. He turned the corner of the Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate and threw it down with his right hand.

Oladipo shot 4/7 while shooting 2/3 from 3 point range. He played exactly 15 minutes – the total Spoelstra had in mind for him. It’s not yet clear how long Oladipo will be on the one-minute limit, but he said it’s something that will be worked on continuously with staff.

“I think it’s a process,” Oladipo said. “At the end of the day, facing this trauma and dealing with what I’ve been through, there are no clear answers. At the end of the day, it’s just about my body and how it reacts over time. time.

“I think Spo and the staff understand that. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s something that will take some time. You have to be patient, including myself… but eventually they’ll give up. I just have to hold on better until then.”

It was Oladipo’s first game since April 8, 2021. He is recovering from the second surgery he needs on his right quadriceps tendon, which he injured initially while playing for Indiana on January 23, 2019. Injury ended his 2018-19 season and since then, Oladipo has played just 52 games in the regular season. He played nine seasons ago with Indiana, 20 with Houston and finally four with Miami after a pair of off-season trades. Miami acquired Oladipo last season for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and options swaps in the first draft 2022.

PJ Tucker was Oladipo’s teammate in Houston last season and got a first-hand look at his battle to get back healthy and on the court.

“He’s been injured for several years now,” Tucker said. “I’ve seen him struggle and get through it. Like, still trying to fight it and play and it’s just not right. So to finally be here and make sure that… in your head, you’re like, ‘Am I good?’ and you can see he’s been through that in every process and every step to get to this point.

“It’s a great thing to see him out there again.”