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Derrick Rose: Oladipo is a "Big-Time Talent"

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

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By John DentonJuly 29, 2014

LAS VEGAS -- Having idolized all of the star players of USA Basketball as a child, Victor Oladipo called the opportunity to contribute to Team USA this week ``surreal.’’

Also, the awe-inspiring experience left the usually loquacious Orlando Magic guard surprisingly speechless when trying to quantify his joy. That’s fine because plenty of others involved with USA Basketball had some extremely flattering things to say about Oladipo and his bright future with the Magic. To a man, many of the NBA’s best players and top coaches raved about Oladipo’s willingness to work on the court, his desire to improve and the infectious passion with which he plays.

To his credit, Oladipo said that he still has a lot of growth to make to be on the same level as many of the players in Las Vegas this week. Oladipo said his sole mission while working out with USA Basketball’s Select team is to soak in as much basketball knowledge as possible and use it to his benefit as he continues to work to improve.

``This can help me a lot because these are guys who I will play against during the season and they are the best players in the world,’’ Oladipo said. ``It’s only going to better myself and better my game so that during the season I can better our (Magic) team.’’

Here is a sampling of some of the comments about Oladipo’s inclusion in the USA Basketball system and his future with the Magic: