Indiana Pacers of America star, Victor Oladipo spared a word for lagte Kobe Bryant on his return to action in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) and declared after lining out against Chicago Bulls that he is bound to better than he was when a scary and career-threatening injury knocked him out early last year.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Oladipo had been sidelined for exactly a year, after suffering the nasty setback and relapse in 2019, but the youngster is staying upbeat, as he believes he has what it takes to stage a huge transformation into better exploits.
Now that he has been cleared to play once again, Oladipo declared emphatically that he will give everything to improve on his game, even as he prepares to return to action after missing the last 12 months through injury, with his season debut against The Bulls on Wednesday.
Oladipo discusses his anticipation to return to the court against Bulls at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where he was expected back on the floor for the first time since suffering a serious quadriceps injury during a game against Toronto Raptors on January 23, 2019.
Pacers coach, Nate McMillan was ecstatic about his ward’s return, but expatiated that the plan for his full recovery will be in place at a graduated approach, with an intent to keep Oladipo peaking for the season through to next month’s All-Star break.
Oladipo, who hit a tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation time, as The Pacers rallied to beat The Bulls 115-106 in overtime, used the midweek comeback to eulogize late Los Angeles Lakers’ legend, Bryant, who died last Sunday in a helicopter crash that also claimed his 13-year-old daughter and seven other occupants of the ill fated flight.
Oladipo entered with 4:12 to go in the first quarter as Indiana 16-12, waved as fans cheered him as he stepped in and then logged 21 minutes, scoring nine points with four assists, two rebounds and two turnovers, with his playing limit time being 24 minutes.
The Cupid-faced lad, who returned for the first time in more than a year after suffering a torn quad tendon in his right knee, tied the score at 100 with nine seconds left, as he made his first 3-pointer of the season from the left wing, and The Pacers trailed 100-93 just minutes earlier.
Afterwards, the two-time NBA All-Star said he understands the process of his rehabilitation, but promised that it will not be long before he hits the form that made him one of the top guards in the NBA, as he plays for the first time after he was stretchered off during the clash with Toronto.
Oladipo said after the game: “I just shot it. Mamba mentality. It’s amazing. Words can’t describe it. It was a hard, hard year. Obviously, got to go out there and play and get used to the game and get my legs under me and everything like that. My mentality is completely different. There is no doubt in my mind that I’m going to better than I was. It is going to happen.
“That is just my belief in myself. Honestly, I don’t care what anybody else thinks or how long it takes or the criticisms that come with it. I don’t care. That’s part of life. I’m just going to attack every day like it is my last.”
