Victor Oladipo is making the pitch for one more shot, and he’s doing it with his own words.
In a recent Players Tribune letter aimed at NBA general managers, the former Miami Heat guard made his case plainly: he believes his body is ready, he believes he can still help a winning team, and he wants a chance to prove it. As he put it:
“To say to any GM who’s willing to listen: I believe my body is finally right. 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’s path back has been a long one. He last played in an NBA game on April 22, 2023, in Game 3 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. On that play, he attacked the basket, came down awkwardly on his left leg, and was later diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon.
Since then, there had been little public sign of where his career stood until the 2025-26 preseason, when he resurfaced with the Guangzhou Loong-Lions. That stretch gave a glimpse of the old Oladipo, as the two-time All-Star scored at least 20 points in two of his three games. Even so, it didn’t lead to a contract.
Then came another chance to show he still belonged. In early November of 2025, Oladipo joined the NBA G League pool and was picked up by the Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks’ affiliate. In 11 games, all starts, he put up 13.5 points while shooting 40.8 percent, along with 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals.
There was also a private Las Vegas workout last summer that drew NBA executives and scouts. The Heat were reportedly there and came away impressed, though whether a reunion is actually on the table remains uncertain.
That question matters because Miami is one of the few teams that already knows what Oladipo can look like in its system. He spent three seasons with the Heat and made two playoff trips with the club. At times, he settled into a steady bench role while the team tried to protect him from the injuries that had shaped so much of his recent career.
Now the Heat have a standard roster spot open after signing center Nick Richards in free agency, and adding another combo guard would give the roster some extra depth. Oladipo’s appeal is straightforward: he can handle the ball, create some offense, and help a bench unit. If Miami were to bring him back, the likely path would start at the end of the rotation, with a chance to earn more from there.
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