Indy mayor shouts out Victor Oladipo at NBA press conference

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 17: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 17: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

During the announcement of the 2021 NBA All-Star game, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett acknowledged Victor Oladipo’s excellence in an awesome way.

At 4 p.m. today, the NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Indianapolis would be the host of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. It will be the city’s first All-Star game since the Hoosier Dome hosted it in 1985.

Indianapolis has already locked down the 2021 NCAA Final Four, as well as the 2022 NCAA National Football Championship game, so 2021-2022 is sure to be an eventful year for the city.

During the press conference, when ex-Pacer Quinn Buckner brought Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to the microphone, the Mayor had something hilarious to say:

He followed his statement by saying, “I’m only kidding…I hope.”

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Mayor Hogsett is of course referring to Victor Oladipo’s latest run of phenomenal performances, most recently capped off by his 47-point performance in the Pacers comeback against the Denver Nuggets.

Oladipo has laid claim to the city before, so seeing the Mayor recognize and joke about it is awesome. For what is worth, we declared him mayor weeks ago.

The All-Star announcement also comes on the day many of us Pacer fans have been waiting for.

Tonight marks Paul George’s return to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and hopefully the night where Oladipo and co. can shine the brightest. The Pacers head into the game sitting at 16-11, 5th in the East, while the Thunder are 9th place in the West, with a 12-14 record.

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Many of us over here at 8 Points, 9 Seconds have a variety of thoughts about tonight’s game, as it shapes up to be one of the more hotly contested games of the year.