Pacers G Victor Oladipo has "exploded onto the central Indiana scene in his first season" with the team and is "fast becoming the face of the franchise," according to a cover story by Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. It is "difficult to overestimate Oladipo’s early impact on the Pacers’ basketball and business operations." He was part of the haul the Pacers received from the Thunder for F Paul George, and Oladipo is currently averaging a team-best 24.9 PPG for the 17-14 Pacers. Oladipo’s "team-first mentality and intensity on the court, soft-spoken and often light-hearted demeanor off of it," along with his roots as an All-American who starred at Indiana Univ., make him "uniquely appealing" in the market. Oladipo merchandise at Bankers Life Fieldhouse's gift shop is even "moving faster than one of the fast breaks he’s spearheaded." Pacers Sports & Entertainment Senior VP/Corporate, Community & PR Bill Benner said, "We are having trouble keeping his items in stock. We have a lot on re-order, and the better he plays, the more demand there is." Pacers media partners "wasted little time featuring Oladipo prominently in game promotions." He also "released his first record, 'Songs for You,' this offseason." CAA Sports' Lisa Joseph-Metelus said that the agency is "working on multiple corporate deals for Oladipo." Meanwhile, Nike last year made him the "face of the Jordan-branded Extra.Fly sneaker." Pacers officials said that Oladipo "didn’t want to be singled out as a star in team marketing materials, including massive banners that hang from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse lobby rafters." Pacers Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor said that the team will "continue to market the team as a whole" (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/18 issue).
