Nearly eight months after having surgery on a ruptured quad tendon, Pacers guard Victor Oladipo doesn’t want to talk about the rehab process, reports Scott Agness of The Athletic. Oladipo began on-court workouts in June, but he hasn’t practiced against anyone. He said he’s working on “a little bit of everything,” but doesn’t want to give away any secrets.
“Ah, I’m getting there,” Oladipo said. “I’m working my way there. You can’t rush these things, you just got to take your time. At the end of the day, Rome wasn’t built in one day.”
People close to Oladipo have talked about his work ethic and dedication. He has adapted his shooting method and now has a smoother shot with a quicker release. The Pacers are monitoring his progress, but haven’t set any sort of timetable for his return.
“I’m just excited to play basketball again, honestly,” Oladipo told Agness. “Just go out there and compete at the highest level possible. I got a lot to let go, so I’m looking forward to letting it go.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Bucks center Brook Lopez tells Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype that he enjoyed July’s free-agent frenzy just like any other fan. “Man, it was so entertaining – first and foremost,” Lopez said. “Just as a fan of the game – waiting for all of those Woj Bombs and news updates — it really was exciting. As a player, it’s exciting too. I mean, everyone has said it, but I think the level of parity is really exciting because there are a number of teams that, I think, are contenders now. It’s just great for basketball because it’s going to be such a competitive league this year.”
- Getting past the effects of two serious injuries helped Pistons guard Reggie Jackson enjoy a revival last season, observes Keith Langlois of NBA.com. Jackson was slowed by left knee tendinosis during the 2016-17 season and a grade-3 right ankle sprain in 2017-18. Jackson started to feel fully healthy around midseason this past season and averaged 16.9 points per game after Feb. 1.
- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was released from a Chicago rehabilitation facility this week after spending two months there following a stroke, relays Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
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