This could have been Victor Oladipo’s gap season, similar to the one taken by Kawhi Leonard with the Los Angeles Clippers and the one that ultimately proved to be the case with Ben Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets, as they dealt with injury recovery.
That, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, is why Oladipo’s return, no matter the statistics, should be celebrated, with last May’s quadriceps surgery having put him on a timetable of a yearlong recovery.
“I just really admire Vic for his fortitude,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat turning their attention to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Game 5 of this best-of-seven series against the Atlanta Hawks that the Heat lead 3-1. “I’ve said this many times, a lot of players would have just written this season off. It’s the safer play.
