INDIANAPOLIS–Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo is unsure if he will return when the NBA season resumes.
“I haven’t made a decision just yet. I’m just taking it one day at a time. I feel like when the day comes, I’ll know,” Oladipo said in a Zoom call Wednesday.
Mandatory workouts began Wednesday for the league with the NBA restart scheduled to happen in Orlando early next month. The Pacers are one of 22 teams that will be participating. They have to declare their travel list of 35 people from their organization. Wednesday was supposed to be the league’s deadline to declare their list, but the league is being flexible on that given the challenges posed by the coronavirus. The Pacers are supposed to leave for Orlando July 9, which means Oladipo would have to make a decision by July 7 or 8, provided there are no changes.
Oladipo has been recovering from a ruptured quad tendon, which he says is still of significant concern.
“I’m trying to get my knee as strong as possible. We’ve had an extensive period of time off. To go back and ramp things up again, I’m susceptible to injury more so than anyone else seeing as how I was already injured beforehand and I wasn’t 100% when I came back to begin with,” said Oladipo.
Oladipo had his right quad tendon repaired last year. He missed most of this season before returning January 29 and playing in 13 games before the NBA suspended play March 11 because of the coronavirus.
“It’s not about now. It’s about longevity. I’m just trying to do what’s best for my future,” said Oladipo.
Oladipo insisted that his decision has nothing to do with the 2020-21 season, which is the final year of his contract and he could enter that summer as an unrestricted free agent.
“I understand this is a business. I’m making this decision based on my health. I want to be in the best form possible,” said Oladipo.
Pacers Head Coach Nate McMillan confirms that Oladipo will travel to Orlando & participate in 5-on-5 workouts before making his final decision to play in the restart.
“I think it’s smart,” said McMillan.
The Pacers first game of the restart is August 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
