Victor Oladipo says Dan Gilbert’s remarks added ‘fuel to the fire’

Victor Oladipo was a part of the Thunder trade package sent to the Pacers for Paul George. Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers owner believed the Pacers could have done better. Oladipo didn’t forget.

The Indiana Pacers shocked the basketball world with a 98-80 Game 1, first-round victory versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Who was the star of the show? This time, not LeBron James. It was Victor Oladipo, the likely candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved player. Oladipo scored 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He also connected on 6-of-9 3-point field goals.

He’s been a revelation all season but when he was traded to Indiana, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, reportedly said he thought the Pacers could have done better than Oladipo. The Pacers star was seen as the average sidekick to Russell Westbrook last season, so that probably was factored into Gilbert’s opinion. But this season and Sunday’s game has proved otherwise, and Oladipo apparently didn’t forget the comments (h/t ESPN).

"Gilbert’s remark got back to Oladipo, who said Sunday that he was “aware of it.”“You could say it added fuel to the fire, I guess you could say,” Oladipo said after Game 1. “But that was so long ago. It came up recently, obviously, because we were playing the Cavs in the series, but I’m aware of what he said. Can’t control his opinion. All I’m focused on is myself and becoming the best Victor Oladipo possible."

Next: Paul George carries Thunder to Game 1 win

The Pacers, on paper, are matched-up evenly with the Cleveland Cavaliers from a seeding standpoint. But the titan that is LeBron James still looms. James had won 21 consecutive first-round matchups dating back to 2012 until yesterday (April 16) so it would be unwise to count James out of the equation. But the Pacers appeared focused and ready in Game 1. Only time will tell if they can sustain that energy for the remainder of the series.