Every NBA team’s MVP, from Kevin Durant to LeBron James
By Tom West
Orlando Magic: Victor Oladipo
Even with a fairly average sounding record, the Magic have taken some major steps forward this season. They rank 4th in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage, and have risen to 19th in offensive efficiency and 7th in defensive efficiency, in comparison to 27th and 25th from last season, respectively. At the forefront of this improvement is third year guard Victor Oladipo.
He’s had some good moments this season, starting with a 21 point, 13 rebound, 10 assist performance in a double overtime thriller against the Thunder in his second game. It showcased his diversity as a player, and as he continues to develop with averages of 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, Oladipo has great value to the Magic.
Another element of the young guard that has shown his worth to the team is his willingness to put the team first. He recently moved to the bench so he can run the second unit and provide his characteristic energy whenever Scott Skiles wants to use it. It shows he isn’t controlled by his ego, and more importantly, it’s working. The Magic are 5-1 in this span, and Oladipo has averaged 18.5 points, 6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 44.6 percent shooting. To go along with his solid numbers in the stat sheet, he’s once again hassling players on the perimeter defensively, as opponents shoot an entire 8.9 percent worse from three against him.
There are other players on the Magic roster who could be considered as the most important player, which means that Oladipo isn’t exactly a standout choice. Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic spring to mind, although the former is even less road tested in his second year and Vucevic has never excelled defensively to be a truly complete center.
When considering potential and ability at both ends of the floor, Oladipo just edges out his other young and talented teammates as the Magic’s MVP.
Next: Charlotte Hornets