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Are you ready to get Oladipoized?

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 23: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers reacts after the game against the Brooklyn Nets on December 23, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 23: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers reacts after the game against the Brooklyn Nets on December 23, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Equalizer 2’s cross-promotional campaign during the NBA Finals features the Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo.

Victor Oladipo’s Q-rating is on the rise.

He’s driving pace cars, stopping by the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, and now the Indiana Pacers guard is featured in advertisements for Denzel Washington’s latest movie, The Equalizer 2.

In the spot during the NBA Finals, Oladipo and other NBA players pitch catchphrases to director Antoine Fuqua. The premise of the ads are Denzel won’t return for a sequel and prompts Fuqua to look toward the NBA for replacements.

This, my friends, is cross-promotional advertising in all its glory.

“You just got Oladipoized.” and “I’m Victor-ious.” are now our rallying cries. Embrace them.

For Pacers fans, seeing so much of Victor Oladipo lately feels good. It’s easy to get bogged down in market-size and the opportunity that bigger cities present for players, but Oladipo is showing those aren’t as big of obstacles as they once were.

Oladipo’s growth from just a scorer to an All-Star made him a known quantity in the NBA last season. Before, fans may have known the name, but a casual fan might give you a blank stare if you asked them anything about him.

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But after pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games and excelling the limelight of the playoffs — save a few ‘off’ games — it’s hard to miss Oladipo these days.

And it can’t be a negative for the Pacers as far as basketball goes, either.

Free agents are going to see his face around and be reminded that while Indiana is one the league’s smaller markets, it isn’t stopping them from building up their popularity.

There is no doubt Los Angeles and New York will always have advantages over other markets in this regard, but Oladipo is showing you can be a face of the NBA no matter where you play.

I wouldn’t overstate the factor it plays for recruitment, but Victor Oladipo’s face showing up on TV isn’t going to hurt. Thought it is too bad he isn’t joining Boban Marjanovich on the set of John Wick: Chapter 3.

Next: Cory Joseph's very productive season

And this is all without using one of his best talents, singing. What if Victor is featured on the summer’s hit signal? This is only the beginning.

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