Hoosier State of Mind
Fansided

Indiana Basketball: Oladipo won’t return to Pacers this year

By Adam Childs

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 05: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Houston Rockets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 05: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Houston Rockets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Indiana basketball alum Victor Oladipo has decided not to play for the Pacers when the NBA restarts later this month.

Victor Oladipo was starting to get back into form after returning from a ruptured quad tendon in his knee. The Pacers were making a run at the top half of the East playoff picture and having a healthy Oladipo was part of the equation.

But then the NBA got shut down just like every other league in the US and things got complicated. Now with the league deciding to start back up for a few games and then the playoffs in a bubble in Orlando, it has led to some hesitation from some players about returning.

Oladipo is one of those players and has decided to not play when the league returns. Some Pacer fans aren’t very happy as he was a key to them trying to make a run in the playoffs, but do they have a point?

Honestly, any fan that is criticizing a player for not wanting to play this year is being selfish to their fandom. Being put in a bubble to play is not ideal, but necessary. Some players just aren’t on board for that type of environment

Yes, they are playing a game and making a lot of money doing it, but that doesn’t mean they should have to work/play in a place where they do not feel comfortable. If a fan was in the exact same situation where they could afford to not work in a place like this they might think twice about it also. We would all be in the exact same situation as Oladipo and others are in right now.

But Oladipo has the added reason of wanting to make sure he is fully healthy for next year. While he was finally getting back into the routine of the NBA season he still admittedly wasn’t completely 100% and having this much time off and trying to go for a shortened part of the season, it just didn’t make sense for him to play.

The other thought for Oladipo is that he is going to be a free agent. Some people might think he is giving up on the Pacers, but he still needs to look out for himself and not risk reaggravating the injury heading into this free agency period.

Most fans, if put in the same situation, would probably do the exact same thing Oladipo is doing. Yes, you can get injured at any time playing, but when you are coming off such a devasting injury it just heightens the risk.

Next. Did Big Ten get All-Decade team right?. dark

Oladipo made the right call for him to not play. Hopefully, for Pacers fans, it won’t be the last time they see him in blue and gold.

Home/Indiana Basketball