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Victor Oladipo may change his mind and decide to participate in the NBA restart.
Indiana Pacers two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo is showing signs he may participate in the NBA restart after all.
Oladipo has been recovering from a torn quad tendon he suffered January 2019. However, it appears the NBA’s hiatus has given Oladipo enough time to recover from the injury and a return may be possible this summer.
”There is growing belief Pacers star Victor Oladipo will attempt to play in the NBA’s restarted season after multiple strong team practices in Orlando, sources inside the bubble tell,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweeted Monday.
This news comes 10 days after Oladipo revealed he would sit out during the NBA restart to avoid the risk of sustaining a soft-tissue injury. While he planned to join his team inside the bubble in Orlando, he had growing concerns about his recovery. Oladipo did not want to return before he was 100 percent, admitting when he returned early this season he did not feel the same, which showed in his on-court production.
With news that Oladipo may return after all, this could impact the Eastern Conference greatly.
The Pacers are currently tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth spot in the East with an identical 39-26 record. They are also only two games out from getting past the Miami Heat for the 4-seed. Oladipo returning for the postseason, or even earlier, could shake things up in the East and give the Pacers a fighting chance to go deep in the postseason.
The Pacers will more than likely face either the Heat or the Boston Celtics in the first round. With Oladipo inserted in the lineup alongside Domantas Sabonis, who’s having a career year, T.J. Warren and Myles Turner, this is a team that can be dangerous in the postseason if things get rolling for them.
With players coming off a long hiatus, anything can happen in this NBA restart. For the Pacers, they are much better with Oladipo on the court, even if he’s just a decoy, than they are without him.