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The results of the 2013 NBA rookie survey are in, and they show that the league's first-year players have a healthy respect for Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo, the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
The Draft class of 2013 overwhelmingly voted Oladipo as the best rookie defender, as he garnered 62.9 percent of the vote. No other player earned more than 5.7 percent of votes. Players could not vote for themselves, their NBA teammates, or their college teammates.
Oladipo also rated highly in other categories. He and Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum are the favorites to win Rookie of the Year, according to the league's rookies, but he projects to succeed in the long term as well: the poll respondents picked Oladipo and Boston Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk to have the best overall careers.
Oladipo broke out in his junior season at Indiana, averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and three combined steals and blocks en route to earning Consensus All-American first-team and co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. He would go on to average 19 points, 4.3 rebounds, five assists, and three steals per game for the Magic in the Orlando Pro Summer League.
The night of the Draft, Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said, "We like Victor because we feel like Victor has a work ethic and an approach to the game that will allow him to continually improve." If the rookie survey results are any indication, Oladipo's colleagues in the 2013 Draft Class agree with Hennigan's assessment.
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