Heat’s Victor Oladipo on his Revenge Tour: ‘Now it’s my time to rise, I truly believe that’

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo is labeling his first full healthy offseason since 2018 as the start of his Revenge Tour.

Following two surgeries on his right knee in the last three-plus years, the two-time All-Star is healthy enough to take advantage of the offseason for the first time in four years. He’s making the most of the opportunity, becoming a regular in the Heat’s facility and even traveling to Los Angeles to work out with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook this summer.

“It’s something I came up with just because I feel like the last couple years have been really tough for me and I’ve obviously gone through a lot individually,” Oladipo, 30, said of his Revenge Tour during a recent podcast appearance on The VC Show with Vince Carter. “And my team and my family have gone through a lot with me collectively.”

Oladipo, who signed a two-year contract worth about $18.2 million in free agency to return to the Heat this offseason, insists it isn’t about about “going city to city just seeking revenge and trying to prove something.”

“When I say revenge, I’m taking about God’s revenge,” Oladipo said on the podcast. “They messed up my surgery, I sat back. I tore my quad, I sat back. But now it’s my time to rise, I truly believe that. So that’s the revenge tour. That’s what it’s all about. It’s one day at a time, it’s a constant grind every day. That’s what I’m focused on doing.”

Oladipo, who was acquired by Miami through a trade with the Houston Rockets in March 2021, has appeared in just 12 regular-season games with the Heat because of a second surgery that was needed to repair the quadriceps tendon in his right knee last May. He ruptured that same tendon in January 2019 and returned a year later in January 2020.

Oladipo played in his first game last season on March 7 following an 11-month recovery from surgery. But with his season debut coming so late, he eventually fell out of the Heat’s rotation before playing himself into a consistent role off the bench in the playoffs.

While far from perfect, Oladipo logged double-digit minutes in each of the Heat’s final 15 playoff games as a reserve. He averaged 10.6 points while shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 27.4 percent on threes, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game last postseason, and played 23.2 minutes per game in the Eastern Conference finals.

“I’m just trying to make sure that people know I’m coming for everybody,” Oladipo said to Carter. “At the end of the day, it really don’t matter who it is. I just want to prove that I’m Victor Oladipo and I stand for who I am. I’m a problem. Look at last year, I didn’t play all year. I came back and played six games and I was in the playoff rotation. I was playing 35 minutes in the Eastern Conference finals. C’mon, man. I would like to see other players do that.”

Now Oladipo’s goal is to use this summer to build on last season. He’s hoping to move closer to the player he was when he was voted to the All-Star Game, NBA All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA Third Team in 2017-18 as a member of the Indiana Pacers prior to his two knee surgeries.

“That I’m one of the best players in the world, period,” Oladipo said when asked by Carter what he wants to prove this upcoming season. “I think that my injury has kind of built a misconception of who I am as a player. Obviously, it’s tough. A lot of athletes deal with injuries, but a lot of athletes come back and do very well from injury and have great careers, even better than before.

“So why can’t that be me? Why can’t I come back from this injury and what I’ve been through and have an even greater career than I thought I could have prior to it? Why can’t I? I don’t see any reason why I can’t. So I truly believe that I can.”

Oladipo has used the adversity he has faced to strengthen his bond with Westbrook, who is also looking to prove he can still play at an All-Star level after a rocky year with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

Oladipo and Westbrook, who have worked out together this summer, were teammates with the Thunder for the 2016-17 season.

“Me and Russ go way back. We played together when he won MVP,” Oladipo said. “So he prepared me for the following year to have the year I had after I left OKC. And I felt like I helped him prepare for his MVP season before he became MVP. And right now, we’re on the same wavelength.

“We have a mutual respect and love for one another. So at the end of the day, we’re going to push each other and make sure we understand what the task is, what the goal is. We’re not going to let each other fail.”

With guard Tyler Herro possibly moving into the starting lineup, Oladipo could become the Heat’s new sixth man this upcoming season. Whatever Oladipo’s role is, he’ll be ready in part because he finally feels healthy enough to work in the offseason.

“It’s like a rebirth,” Oladipo said. “Me being in my 10th year, it feels like I’m in Year 1 all over again. But it’s a Year 1 with a little bit of experience. I’m looking forward to it. Whatever the year brings, I’m going to prepare myself for any and everything this summer. So whatever happens next year, it’s no shock to me.”