A former NBA All-Star signs with the Milwaukee Bucks development team

At 33 years old, Victor Oladipo refuses to give up. The shooting guard, a two-time NBA All-Star and former number 2 pick in the draft, is making a new attempt to return to the elite of American basketball. This time, he will do it from the G League, joining the Wisconsin Herd, the affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, in what represents his final step to reintegrate into the league after years marked by injuries.

Oladipo has not played an official NBA game since the 2022-23 season, when he was with the Miami Heat. During that season, he had established himself as a solid rotation player, providing energy and defense off the bench. However, his effort was cut short at the worst moment: in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the guard suffered a left patellar tendon rupture, an injury that once again interrupted his career.

Until then, Oladipo had barely exceeded 36 games played per season in the previous four years. With Miami, he reached 42 games, his highest figure since his time in Indiana, before undergoing surgery again.

A Stint in China Before the Return

Far from giving up, the Maryland-born player embarked on a journey through Asia in search of playing time and visibility. This fall, Oladipo signed with the Guangzhou Loong-Lions in the Chinese league (CBA), where he tried to prove that he still has fuel in the tank. During the team's preseason tour, playing friendlies against several NBA teams, numerous NBA scouts closely monitored his performance, keeping alive hopes of a return.

His new move, joining the Wisconsin Herd, will allow him to compete in an environment controlled by an NBA organization, a key opportunity to test his physical condition and regain competitive rhythm.

In a ten-season NBA career, Oladipo averages 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, shooting 44% from the field. His best version was showcased with the Indiana Pacers, where he was All-Star in 2018 and 2019 and established himself as one of the best defensive shooting guards and most explosive players in the league.

However, his trajectory changed completely after a quadriceps tendon rupture suffered in January 2019, which ended his golden era in Indianapolis. Since then, his body has not stopped setting limits for him.

A Fresh Opportunity in Milwaukee

Now, in Wisconsin, Oladipo will seek to convince the Bucks that he can be a useful piece in the rotation of a team with championship aspirations. His experience, ability to generate points, and defensive intensity are still valued virtues in the league. But beyond talent, his biggest challenge will be to demonstrate durability.

In a sport that rarely offers second chances, Victor Oladipo faces perhaps his last. And if there's one thing he has shown throughout his career, it's that he doesn't know how to give up.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un ex All-Star de la NBA firma con el equipo de desarrollo de los Milwaukee Bucks