“He (Victor Oladipo) might be out a little bit. I’m hoping he’ll be back December or January.” When Indiana Pacers President Kevin Pritchard addressed the media on Friday, this statement rang the largest of any.
When Oladipo ruptured his quad during a Jan. 23 game against the Toronto Raptors, not only was it the end of the Pacers’ slim title aspirations last season but potentially this season as well. Despite numerous amounts of videos posted on social media showing Oladipo doing elaborate workouts and rehab, there is still no clear timetable for the Pacers star to return to playing every night on the hardwood.
“Obviously now things are going to be a little different,” Oladipo told the Indianapolis Star in May. “I know my body better than ever than now going through this rehab process. It’s like relearning my body. I’ll know what to do what not to do, not to overdo it.”
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Before the injury, Oladipo was averaging 18.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 42.3% shooting from the field. Oladipo’s transition from a good player to an All-Star within the last two seasons has been nothing short of incredible to watch. The former second overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic out of Indiana University consistently averaged 16 or 17 points per game during his first four NBA seasons between the Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was not until Oladipo signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers two season ago that he became a 23-points-per-game scorer. Perhaps due to the Pacers’ need for a consistent offensive weapon, Oladipo’s game has matured beyond what people thought was possible for him after four seasons.
The Pacers acquired Phoenix Suns small forward T.J. Warren in a trade over the weekend, probably to find ways to earn consistent contribution for the lack of offense without Oladipo on the court. In the end, without a healthy Victor Oladipo, the Pacers’ chances of winning anything seem like a long-shot at best.
