Those were the words of the 21-year old Victor Oladipo, an American of Nigerian origin, who is the #2 pick of the 2013 American National Basketball Association draft.
Oladipo, who went college at Indiana University where he was a star basketball player with the Hoosiers, became the college’s highest draft pick since eventual Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas was taken No. 2 in 1981.
He was the only guard drafted among the top six picks Thursday night.
“We just really like what he’s about. We like his work ethic and his ability to impact both ends of the floor,” Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told ESPN shortly after the selection.
“We feel like he plays efficient basketball, which is always good. … There are a lot of different things that he can improve on, and I’m sure when he gets here we’ll put a plan together and help him do that.”
Oladipo is primarily a shooting guard, though the Magic could use him at both backcourt spots.
“I see myself as a little bit of both, a combination guard,” he said. “But whatever they want me to be, wherever I can have an impact, that’s where I’ll be.”
Oladipo set an Indiana record for single-season steals with 78, earning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award in a season in which he also led the conference with a .599 field goal percentage.
“My defense is everything,” he said. “It’s the reason why I got here, and it’s the reason I’m at the point that I am now, and why and it’s going to help me separate myself in the future. I’m going to keep growing in that area as well. I feel like I can grow in different aspects of my defense, too, so I’m going to definitely bring that to the Orlando Magic program and do whatever it takes on the defensive end, and help my team win.”
Oladipo measured 6 feet 3 1/4 inches at the NBA Draft Combine. He was a first-team Associated Press All-American and The Sporting News Player of the Year after averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a junior, leading the Hoosiers to their first outright Big Ten regular-season championship in 20 years.
Born May 4, 1992, Victor Oladipo is the son of Nigerian parents. His mother Joan Amanze Oladipo and father Christopher Oladipo both immigrated to the United States in the 1985. Joan is a nurse and Christopher has a PHD in behavioral science from University of Maryland, College Park . Victor is the only son of the couple, although he has sisters Kristine, born 1986 and sister Kendra, born 1990. He also has twin sister, Victoria. His sister Kendra is deaf.