Not LeBron or Jordan: 2x All-Star Victor Oladipo reveals his surprising pick for GOAT

If the NBA were to create an official “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) award, there would undoubtedly be a few front-runners, with LeBron James and Michael Jordan often topping the list. However, former NBA players, including Victor Oladipo, have added surprising names to the conversation. Oladipo, a two-time All-Star, recently shared an unexpected pick that has caught fans’ attention.

Oladipo, who was once regarded as one of the NBA’s promising stars, could be considered one of the league’s biggest “what if” stories. Selected as the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, Oladipo’s career started on a high note. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his promising trajectory, affecting his overall impact on the league.

Despite battling several setbacks, including a significant knee injury, Oladipo continued to fight for a return to his elite form. He played his final season in 2023 with the Miami Heat alongside Jimmy Butler but was ultimately sidelined by another injury. The following season, unable to continue his playing career, Oladipo decided to retire.

After 11 seasons in the NBA, where he shared the court with some of the league’s biggest stars, Oladipo offered a surprising pick when asked about the greatest player of all time, snubbing LeBron and Jordan. Speaking on the Inner Court podcast, Oladipo declared that Stephen Curry is the GOAT. “I consider Steph the greatest of all time. And the reason behind that is that he was supposed to be playing golf. You look at him, and he was supposed to be playing golf, and now he’s out there hitting shots like that,“ Oladipo said.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles up the court against the Chicago Bulls.

Oladipo’s reasons for calling Curry the GOAT

Oladipo recently shared his thoughts on why he considers Curry to be the greatest of all time. As the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, Curry has transformed the game, not only for the Golden State Warriors but also for the entire league. His ability to change the dynamics of scoring from beyond the arc has set new standards for players across the NBA.

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Oladipo praised Curry’s impact on the game: “He’s completely changed the game. I saw him doing that, I had to guard him, and he’s really different. He’s changed the game so drastically that now players are shooting 50 threes a game. And that’s only because of him,” Oladipo remarked.

While Oladipo’s words resonated with some fans who agreed with his assessment of Curry as the GOAT, there are other factors to consider in the conversation, such as championships, total points, and other key statistics, in which LeBron has plenty of them.

Oladipo’s NBA career

With 11 years in the NBA, Oladipo has become a role model for shooting guards across multiple generations. Known for his work ethic and all-around game, he’s made significant contributions to every team he’s played for. His best years came with the Indiana Pacers, where he spent three seasons and earned two All-Star selections.

Over the course of his career, Oladipo has played for the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat. His standout season came in 2017-2018 when he averaged 23.1 points per game, earning a 13th-place finish in the MVP race, 15th in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and recognition as the NBA’s Most Improved Player. He was also named to the Third All-NBA Team that season.