Stating My Case: Why Victor Oladipo is the NBA MVP

Photo by Tom Szczerbowski- USA Today

In my last post, I talked about the differences between the Pacers this year compared to the last two years-- specifically last year. I briefly went through the new acquisitions, stating why their play has made such a difference on the team. There was one particular player whose name I mentioned, but didn't go into detail on what he has brought to the team so far, and there was a reason for that.

The reason for that was I had a blog in mind specifically for him. No one on the Pacers team has been as productive, awe-inspiring, or surprising as Victor Oladipo, which is why you see the title in this post. Yeah, that's right, I said it. Now, I shall elaborate on why I'm stating my case for him as the 2017-18 NBA MVP.

When you think of an MVP (meaning Most Valuable Player) on a team, logically, one would come to mind who has made a significant impact on his team. Although it is a team game-- I can't emphasize that enough-- he is the primary reason that they're in the position they're in, whether it be for a championship, which is usually the situation, or why a team is a quiet storm that no one saw coming (and possibly move on to win a championship from there). However, I know this is a popularity contest, so more than likely your LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden will dominate the conversations of many.

Yes, these men make a significant impact on their respective teams year in, year out, but none of them as much as the Pacers' Victor Oladipo. For starters, they're (I believe) 1-5 without him, but I can go much further than that. Before I do that, I want to go back to the trade in July that brought Vic to Indiana, and what my thinking was at the time.

As I've mentioned before, initially, I was okay with the deal, and that was based on Victor's ability and (Domantas) Sabonis' potential. A second overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2013 draft, I heard of Vic's play in Orlando, but I saw more of him in Oklahoma City. At the time, I thought he was a pretty good second option, but not much more than that. It was said that although he's a pretty good player, he hasn't played up to his draft status. In retrospect, to be fair, he was never given the opportunity to showcase those skills, which brings me back to my case.

When the trade was made, one of my first thoughts was this is a grand opportunity for him to fully put those second-overall-pick skills on display, and like the rest of the team, he has exceeded my expectations. Whether he's hot or cold on game nights, he will contribute in other areas to help the team, he doesn't take plays off. He plays on both ends of the floor (a rare breed, nowadays). He's averaging 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and two steals per game, all MVP-caliber numbers, but it doesn't stop there.

Trading Places. Oladipo (left), Paul George (right). I'm so glad.

Even with his seemingly overnight stardom, and his willingness to put the team on his back, he has a team mentality. He trusts his teammates and makes the game easier for them, and doesn't make it all about himself. He wants to be here, and help turn this team into a formidable contender for years to come. To paraphrase a statement owner Herb Simon recently made, there's a major difference between someone who doesn't want to be here, and someone who wants to be here.

If he maintains the same team mentality and attitude, not letting the fan fare go to his head, becoming a "diva" like some of these effeminate "superstars" nowadays, and continue to elevate his game, not only do I believe he will be an MVP-caliber player for years to come, but will also be the one to lead the Pacers to their first NBA Championship.