Nigeria’s NBA star with Indiana Pacers, Victor Oladipo has disclosed that he is now thinking a lot about politics, as he sees himself as more than an athlete and wants to use his platform to change the world.
The Pacers’ guard said he will not stick to just sports, as many fans will suggest, and has already waded into the political atmosphere with few 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 Senator Joe Donnelly’s re-election campaign.
Sports247.ng gathered further that the 26-year-old Oladipo has now taken a change to his early orientation in life, as he initially 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 Indianapolis Star, and confessed that he will now likely appear at future campaign events.
Oladipo told the IndyStar he was “enlightened” after leaving the campaign rally and wanted to change people’s lives in a positive way.
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 would rather step off the sidelines and change the world than worry about it, saying with great power comes great responsibility.
He declared at length: “At the end of the day, we aren’t just athletes. 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.
“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.
“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.”
