Los Angeles (AFP)
Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers) has declared that he will not participate in the rest of the NBA season, scheduled to resume on July 30, not wishing to take the risk of injuring his right knee again, operated on in January 2019.
"I really want to replay and as a competitor and teammate it tears me apart (not being able to do it)," said the 28-year-old American point guard / backstage at The Athletic, also referring to the Disney World "bubble" at Orlando (Florida) where the championship is to resume.
The rest of the season, interrupted since March 11, following the announcement of the positive coronavirus test by French Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), must take place behind closed doors in a protected environment, as the Disney World complex allows. . But the dramatic upsurge in Covid-19 cases in Florida is worrying.
"The increased risk of an injury to the soft tissues of my knee would delay my rehabilitation and with the configuration of the bubble which is not fully known, I do not feel completely comfortable with the idea of playing ", said Oladipo, preferring to finish his rehabilitation to return" 100% "next season.
The Pacers player broke a quadriceps tendon in his right leg during a game between his team and Toronto in January 2019.
Oladipo had returned on January 29, 2020. He played thirteen regular season 2019-2020 games, before the interruption linked to the health crisis, averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3 assists .
"We fully respect and understand Victor's decision not to participate in the NBA recovery," said an Indiana Pacers spokesperson on Friday.
"Our priority is and always will be the health of the players," he added.
© 2020 AFP