After being away from the court for two and a half years, he returned wearing a CBA jersey.

In the preseason game between the Spurs and Guangzhou Long-Lions, a recognizable face appeared on the Guangzhou team—Victor Oladipo took part in this overseas preseason game for Guangzhou.

Oladipo displayed solid form today, making 8 out of 19 shots and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 4 turnovers. Except for his three-point shooting, which never quite found its rhythm, his efficiency attacking near the basket was excellent, his physical condition well restored, and several steals highlighted the defensive skills that once earned him All-Defensive honors.

For Guangzhou, the offense mostly relied on Oladipo, who started strong at the beginning of both the first and third quarters. Oladipo’s signing with Guangzhou appears to be just a preseason contract, aiming to use this opportunity to showcase himself and strive for a return to the NBA.

Of course, if Oladipo fails to make it back to the NBA, becoming an official foreign player for Guangzhou is entirely possible. He has already trained with the team for some time, and both sides are familiar with each other. Judging by his performance in this game alone, Oladipo is fully capable of fulfilling the role of a small foreign player in a CBA team.

This marks Oladipo’s return to official competition after nearly two and a half years. The last time he played was in 2023 during the playoffs for the Miami Heat when he suffered a left patellar tendon rupture, ending his season.

This injury effectively derailed his career. Although he still had a year left on his contract, the Heat released him. Over the next year, he moved between the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies but never appeared in a game, ultimately being waived by the Grizzlies in February 2024.

For a long time, fans saw Oladipo as a cautionary tale of someone who "did not understand himself." During the 2017-18 season, Oladipo reached his peak, averaging 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. He won the steals title, was selected for the All-Star game, made the third All-NBA team, the first All-Defensive team, and was named Most Improved Player.

His playoff battle against LeBron James’ 2018 Cavaliers, which went to seven games, remains one of Oladipo’s career highlights. Based on the strength the Pacers showed that year, they could have advanced further if not for facing the Cavaliers.

However, Oladipo’s prime was short-lived. In January 2019, he tore his right patellar tendon, ending his season. When he returned in the 2019-20 season, his performance declined somewhat, but the Pacers still offered him a four-year, $80 million contract extension, which Oladipo declined.

This year, Oladipo admitted he turned down that contract because it was less than the $84 million deal he had before his injury. At that time, he had just recovered and was full of ambition, but that confidence ultimately backfired, as his injury struggles were far from over.

After being traded from the Pacers to the Rockets, Oladipo also declined a two-year, $45.2 million extension from Houston, then was traded again to the Heat. During his contract year, he underwent surgery on his right quadriceps and missed the rest of the season.

In hindsight, if Oladipo had accepted that four-year, $80 million contract, he might still have a contract today and remain in the NBA. One wrong decision led to a series of setbacks and bad luck, ultimately causing his NBA career to end prematurely.

This year, after fully recovering physically, Oladipo tried out for multiple teams, including his former team, the Pacers, in a private workout attended by coaches and executives. Unfortunately, none of these tryouts led to a contract, which explains why we now see Oladipo wearing a Guangzhou jersey in a preseason game.

In a recent interview, Oladipo shared his feelings: “My past experiences have been very tough, and it seems like the difficulties never stopped over these years. But right now, I feel reborn, and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the court.”

“I want to prove to everyone that adversity doesn’t stop you; it shapes you into your true self. Mountains exist for us to climb, not to block our way. I will give my all and show the world my life.”

Although he has been away from the court for over two years, Oladipo is only 33 years old. The NBA window may have closed for him, but his basketball journey isn’t over. Climbing one mountain after another, he will reshape his life for the world to see.