Pacers guard Victor Oladipo opts out of remainder of NBA season in Orlando

The Indiana Pacers just received a huge blow to their lineup as one of their top players has opted to sit out of the NBA's resumption at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Victor Oladipo has decided to sit out the rest of the 2019-20 campaign, he told The Athletic's Shams Charania. 

The 28-year-old ramped up activity last week before making his decision but ultimately decided that it wouldn't be reasonable to return to action while continuing to recover from a torn quad tendon injury.

"I really want to play, and as a competitor and teammate this is tearing me apart," Oladipo said. "I feel like I’m at a great place in my rehab and getting closer and closer to 100 percent. With all the variables, from how I have to build my 5-on-5 workload back up, to the increased risk of a soft tissue injury, which could delay my rehab, and the unknown exact set up of the bubble, I just can't get my mind to being fully comfortable in playing."

Losing Oladipo isn't a good sign for a Pacers team that desperately needs him in a loaded Eastern Conference with teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. 

In 13 games before the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oladipo was averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Pacers currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 39-26 record. In the 13 games Oladipo played, Indiana went 7-6.

Teams will be allowed to bring 17 players to Orlando with playoff rosters consisting of 15 total players — 13 active and two inactive. The Pacers now will have the opportunity to sign someone as his replacement -- similar to how the Los Angeles Lakers signed JR Smith as Avery Bradley's replacement.