The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 27: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers 121-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Indiana Pacers — Victor Oladipo

Before last season began but after the Paul George trade, the consensus for the most important player on the Indiana Pacers was probably Myles Turner. Turner was a promising young big man coming off of a strong rookie season, and neither of the pieces Indiana obtained for PG-13 seemed all that enticing.

That all changed rapidly during the 2017-18 campaign. Victor Oladipo, a player familiar to Hoosiers fans across Indiana, proved that he was better in the spotlight than he could be playing sidekick in Oklahoma City.

Oladipo posted a career season and played at a star level on both ends, earning himself his first All-Star appearance. Oladipo averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a league-leading 2.4 steals per game. All of those averages were career-highs for the former Hoosier.

More importantly, Oladipo proved he wasn’t just putting up empty stats once he led the Pacers to the postseason. The 2017-18 Cavaliers may have been bad for LeBron’s standards, but they still went on to win the East. That Eastern Conference Champion-caliber squad was pushed to seven games in the first round by Oladipo and the Pacers.

Indiana GM Kevin Pritchard cannot have expected Oladipo to be this good, but here we are. The Pacers will continue to be a threat in the East, all thanks to Victor Oladipo. That seems pretty important.

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