Heat guard Victor Oladipo ruled out for the rest of the NBA playoffs
The Miami Heat sit in command with a 3-1 first-round playoff series lead over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Heat were dealt a tough blow with former All-star guard Victor Oladipo suffering a torn patellar in his left knee. It occurred in the fourth quarter of Game 3 after he drove to the basket and landed on the floor.
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“It was a great win, but when you see a player go down like that and particularly a player like Vic, who has gone through so much in the last three years — I don’t know what it is right now, so I don’t want to jump the gun on anything,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said via ESPN. “But that’s definitely not a good feeling to see.”
Before the injury, Victor Oladipo was averaging 11.5 points in 22.5 minutes per contest in the playoffs.
Since undergoing surgery to repair a torn quad tendon in his right knee in January 2019, he struggled to return to form that earned him an All-Star game selection. Oladipo had a second surgery in May 2021 and didn’t play until March 2022.
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This setback could force him to miss another extended stretch that may put his availability for the 2023-24 season in jeopardy. Oladipo is playing in the final year of his two-year, $18.2 million contract.
He could likely move through free agency without much interest due to his injury. He’s also overcoming another serious ailment that brings serious concern to the long-term health of both of his knees.
