Victor Oladipo steps off political sidelines, saying 'we aren't just athletes'

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo sees himself as more than an athlete and wants to use his platform to “change the world.”

He won’t “stick to sports,” as many sports fans suggest, and instead waded into the political atmosphere with weeks to go before the November election. The rising Pacers star attended and spoke at a campaign rally last week with former Vice President Joe Biden in Hammond, Indiana, for Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) Indiana’s re-election campaign.

Oladipo, 26, focused less on political party leanings and more on his love for the state, where he played college ball at Indiana University. He spoke about his growing interest in speaking out to the Indianapolis Star.

Oladipo will ‘likely’ appear at future campaign events

Will Baskin-Gerwitz, spokesman for Donnelly’s campaign, told the Star that Oladipo reached out a few months ago asking how he could help. When he heard Biden would be at the rally Friday, Baskin-Gerwitz said, Oladipo asked to be involved.

He will likely appear at future campaign events, the spokesman said.

Oladipo told the IndyStar he was “enlightened” after leaving the campaign rally and wanted to change people’s lives in a positive way.

“That’s what it’s all about, no matter what you believe, no matter what you represent, no matter what’s going on, it’s about lending a helping hand,” he said. “And that’s what I got from it. That’s the message I’m trying to spread. If we just continue to help each other and uplift each other, then maybe eventually our world will truly be a better place.”

Oladipo: ‘We aren’t just athletes’

Taking a political stand typically means angering half of a star’s fan base, even if the statement doesn’t seem too political on its head. Oladipo said he’d rather step off the sidelines and change the world than worry about that, citing “with great power comes great responsibility.”

“At the end of the day, we aren’t just athletes,” Oladipo said. “I have my degree in kinesiology from Indiana University. If I was just an athlete, I probably wouldn’t have (gotten my degree). But being an athlete is not just dribbling the ball or throwing a football or kicking a soccer ball. There’s so much more that we have to do outside of that. More we have to learn to do outside of that or we’ll crumble. It is what it is. People have their opinions, but me personally, I don’t believe we are just human beings who work a 9 to 5.”

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