Victor Oladipo shows Russell Westbrook love for NBA retirement

Victor Oladipo's brief stint with Russell Westbrook proved to be a pivotal moment in his basketball career. Witnessing Westbrook's MVP season, Oladipo knew he had to reach his peak conditioning to achieve his NBA potential. When Westbrook announced his retirement after 18 seasons, Oladipo, among others, praised his former teammate for his impact on the game.

Oladipo credited Westbrook for teaching him the importance of being an NBA franchise player. Their one-season partnership led to Westbrook trading Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers for Paul George. Despite a mediocre Thunder team and a Round 1 exit, Oladipo admired Westbrook's legacy. George's arrival helped the Thunder secure Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, while Sabonis brought Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers.

However, Oladipo's prime was cut short by injuries, and he has not played in the NBA since 2023, still hoping for a late-season comeback.