Announced! Oladipo joins the Guangzhou team! He is an NBA All-Star guard.

The Guangzhou team confirmed the list of foreign players for the NBA preseason as follows:

Familiar faces, familiar names.

Oladipo will represent Guangzhou in the NBA preseason, competing against the Spurs (October 7), Clippers (October 10), and Timberwolves (October 14).

However, the current situation suggests Oladipo will only play for Guangzhou in the NBA preseason. It is still unknown if he will take part in the new CBA season. If he performs well in the preseason, he might even return to the NBA, with Guangzhou serving merely as a platform for him to showcase his skills.

Oladipo was born on May 4, 1992, making him 33 years old this year. He was the 13th overall pick in the draft and has played for the Magic, Thunder, Pacers, Rockets, and Heat during his NBA career. His regular season averages are 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 43.6% from the field, 34.7% from three, and 78.8% from the free-throw line. In the playoffs, he averages 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, shooting 39.1%, 33%, and 79%, respectively.

So far, Oladipo’s NBA achievements include winning the Most Improved Player award (17-18), being named to the All-NBA Third Team (17-18), leading the league in steals (17-18), and being selected for the All-Star Game twice (17-18 and 18-19), among others.

Yes, this guy was once an NBA All-Star, especially during the 17-18 season with the Pacers, where he averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals in the regular season. In the playoffs, he posted averages of 22.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2.4 steals, making him one of the rare guards effective on both ends of the floor.

Unfortunately, fate was unkind. At his peak, Oladipo suffered frequent injuries that caused his decline and led to a journeyman status. In early 2019, he tore a tendon in his right knee, ending his season with the Pacers; in May 2021, he underwent right quadriceps surgery, missing the season with the Heat; and in April 2023, he tore his left patellar tendon, again with the Heat... These repeated serious injuries gradually made him less sought after.

Actually, Oladipo still has plenty of fuel left in the tank, but due to his age and severe injury history, no NBA team is willing to take a chance on him, not even offering a veteran minimum contract. He also has no intention to play overseas and hasn’t played a proper game in over two years. His last appearance was on April 10, 2023, in the Heat vs. Magic game.

If nothing else works out, Oladipo might as well finish the NBA preseason and then join Guangzhou for the CBA season, where he can better showcase his talent.

The only concern is whether his salary demands might be too high and unaffordable.

Statistics show that Oladipo has earned a total of $125 million in NBA salary throughout his career.

As for the local players representing Guangzhou in the NBA preseason, they are as follows:

Chen Guohao, Zhang Huafei, Zhang Wenjie, Pang Yanjun;

Li Xiangbo, Liu Yancheng, Guan Ziyu, Li Xiaotong.

Guo Ailun and Xu Xin will both miss the NBA preseason; one is still recovering from an eye injury, and the other is preparing for the National Games with the Guangdong team.

In the 24-25 regular season, Guangzhou managed only 12 wins and 34 losses, ranking 15th in the league and missing the playoffs. However, this does not diminish their status as one of the most internationally engaged teams in the CBA, providing young talents the chance to challenge the highest level of basketball worldwide, which will help them attract more talent in the future.