The Pacers lost 105-101 Monday (AEST) to fall 4-3 to the Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference playoff series, but star guard Victor Oladipo hopes the team earned something from the experience.
MORE: LeBron James scores 45 points to lead Cavaliers past Pacers in Game 7
"If y'all don't respect the Indiana Pacers now, I have no respect for you," Oladipo said after the Pacers' loss, via espn.com. "That's just how I feel. Nobody thought we were going to be here — not one person — but us in the locker room. I feel like we've earned our respect from everyone now."
Oladipo, who scored 30 points with 12 rebounds Monday, made his first All-Star team this season after moving to Indiana as a part of the Paul George trade.
"Nobody thought we were going to be here," Oladipo said. "If I told you we were going to be here in October, you'd have looked at me like I was crazy."
“The only reason we were successful is because we trust each other and because of the characteristics of the gentlemen in the locker room.” - @VicOladipo #Together pic.twitter.com/xdZY5z1SV4
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 29, 2018
While LeBron James said after the game that he just wanted to go home after feeling a bit burnt out carrying the Cavaliers on his back, Oladipo doesn't know how to rest.
"I don't know how to take time off. I had someone tell me, 'Take a break and enjoy my life.' This is my life," Oladipo said. "I feel like I've got a lot of room to improve. This summer I'm going to go to work so I can come back even better."