Victor Oladipo will be in the starting lineup as the Pacers begin their reseeding schedule tonight, the team announced on Twitter. Oladipo, who wasn’t sure if he was going to play at all in Orlando because of concerns about his quad tendon, had been listed as a game-time decision.
“He is in the lineup, he’ll be starting tonight,” coach Nate McMillan said. “So yes, he’s playing and ready to go.”
Oladipo has appeared in just 13 games this season after recovering from surgery that kept him sidelined until late January. He averaged 13.8 points in 25.9 minutes per night, which are both career lows. He also shot a career-worst .391 from the field and .304 from 3-point range.
Oladipo reportedly decided in early July to skip the NBA’s restart, but he remained on the Pacers’ roster and accompanied the team to Orlando. He had second thoughts once he went through a couple of practices at the Walt Disney World campus.
“This is very, very rare so right now I’m trying to figure things out just like everybody else had to figure what situation they were in,” Oladipo said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “… Essentially this is my knee and my body, my leg and I’ve got to listen to how I respond because everyone responds differently.”
The news isn’t as good for backcourt partner Malcolm Brogdon, who will sit out tonight’s game because of a neck injury, the team announced in a separate tweet. This marks the 18th game Brogdon has missed this season with eight different ailments, notes Nat Newell of The Indianapolis Star.
Nice try Oladipo
I am now watching Zion game
The perfect comparison for Zion is Blake Griffin
That’s an extremely pessimistic comparison for Zion.
Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Barkley
That’s just body shape. ZW is quick & aware. He’s original; durable we’ll see.
Why would Oladipo play. Pacers not doing anything. He should just get ready for next yr. Has one yr left on contract. Should be getting ready for big yr.
Maybe ’cause he gets paid a fortune to play, right? I would think that should be reason enough. A contract year is only important to him, his team should just want his contribution. Anyway he ain’t that good, at best he is the 3rd best player in his team. He must play to show if actually he can play at all.