NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo has joined the NZ Breakers’ high-profile ownership group which includes former NBA players Shawn Marion and Matt Walsh.
The Indiana Pacers guard, 28, told Associated Press today that he and business manager Jay Henderson have invested into the franchise which has won four NBL titles in the past decade.
“I was always interested in being part of team ownership, having input with a team and helping a team be successful on the business side of things,” says two-time All-Star Oladipo.
“To work with a team from this perspective, I’m sure I’ll have newfound respect for the guys who have been in that position.”
28-year-old Oladipo admits he’s never visited New Zealand but is keen to visit down at least once a year to play an active part in his new management role.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal will make Oladipo one of the world’s youngest basketball owners.
The timing of this situation is interesting to say the least with his current relationship with the Indiana Pacers being somewhat “strained” as they negotiated his new contract.
He initially opted out of playing for the Pacers while they played in the NBA’s bubble in Orlando during the final months of the NBA season. Oladipo cited concerns about his injured right knee but these concerns were not considered his main reason for avoiding play.
He would later rescind his statements and play for the team for the team’s remaining games inside the bubble.
What impact this move will have on Oladipo’s next NBA contract and potential sponsorship deals with the announcement coming at a time where the Pacers have publicly questioned his commitment is unknown.
Although Oladipo was a teammate of Kiwi centre Steven Adams whilst with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016-17 he noted it was through the play of NBA draft prospect LaMelo Ball which captured his attention on Australia’s fastest-growing professional sports league.
“I definitely think this league is growing,” he says. “I know it’s growing.
“It’s really competitive. I actually saw a few games when LaMelo was playing and I think it’s becoming a hot commodity.”
Oladipo says he will not be involved in the day-to-day operations, will not allow his ownership role to become a distraction and that he is eager to bring an NBA title to the state of Indiana.
“Luckily, I’m at a point in my career where I just need to focus on the game, improve on myself, improve on my body,” Oladipo said. “But when the ball stops bouncing, God willing it’s like 15 years from now, I’ll have lots of options, different avenues I can explore.” said Oladipo.
While Henderson is likely to manage the majority of the day to day requirements Oladipo could be pivotal in securing import talent for the Breakers over the coming seasons being in a great position to recruit some of his former NBA teammates to play in Australia.
Under NBL owner Larry Kestelman, the NBL has attracted considerable ownership interest from NBA players over the past few seasons.
The South East Melbourne Phoenix include Dante Exum, Zach Randolph, Al Harrington and Josh Childress among it’s ownership group, whilst Kevin Martin has previously invested in Brisbane Bullets and Andrew Bogut reportedly has ownership options with the Sydney Kings.
“We do a lot of start-ups together, We own a few companies together and now we’re going to be owners of the NZ Breakers” says Henderson.
“I can’t even say I dreamed about it. I always thought what it would like to own a franchise, but you never fully expect it to happen.”
Oladipo, the NBA’s 2018 Most Improved Player, came back from a ruptured quad tendon to play for the Pacers last season, joining the team for the playoffs, where they were swept by Miami Heat in the first round.