Oladipo: Opportunity to thrive in playoffs is 'a blessing'

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo is reveling in his newfound opportunity to play meaningful minutes in the postseason after struggling with injuries over the past few seasons.

After injuries to Kyle Lowry in Game 4 and Jimmy Butler in Game 5, the 29-year-old guard was called on to play in the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.

In the Heat's closeout Game 5 on Tuesday, he dropped a team-high 23 points in the 97-94 win. He made his first appearance in Game 4, logging 23 minutes.

"It's a blessing at the end of the day to be able to play the game I love," Oladipo said, according to Sports Illustrated's Shandel Richardson. "A year ago today I was expecting and waiting for my next surgery. I was sitting in a dark room by myself and just broke down. Not because I quit, but because I was at the lowest point I could be at."

Oladipo debuted for the Heat in March, playing in eight games. In the team's final contest, he dropped 40 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

The former All-Star was traded to the Heat from the Houston Rockets at last season's trade deadline for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and the option to swap 2022 draft picks. He played four games for the squad that season before undergoing surgery to repair his quadriceps tendon.

"I can't really explain why I’m going through what I went through," Oladipo said, per Richardson. "I can't really explain why I’m here today, but I'm staying in the moment and making every moment mean something."

Oladipo has not appeared in more than 70 games in the regular season since the 2017-18 campaign when he was selected to his first All-Star team. He ruptured his quadriceps tendon in early 2019.

"When my number was called today and they needed me, I was able to perform at the level I performed at," Oladipo said. "I'm still improving. I haven't played enough basketball to be super comfortable yet. I'm getting there."