NBA Insider Report: Victor Oladipo’s Most Likely Return Destination Would Be a Familiar Reunion With the Indiana Pacers

Victor Oladipo’s name continues to linger in NBA circles—not for what he has done recently on the court, but for what he still might be capable of, if granted one more chance. According to multiple league sources and insiders familiar with his recovery and market interest, the most likely destination for Oladipo, should he return to the NBA for the 2025-26 season, is a familiar one: the Indiana Pacers.

It would be a homecoming nearly five years in the making.

Oladipo, who played some of the best basketball of his career in a Pacers uniform, remains unsigned after battling a string of devastating injuries that began in January 2019 with a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee. Since then, his NBA journey has been a turbulent ride through Miami, Houston, and a brief stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder—none of which brought him back to the All-Star form that electrified Indianapolis fans during the late 2010s.

Yet the idea of a return to the Pacers isn’t just a sentimental storyline. League sources indicate that the Pacers have quietly monitored Oladipo’s recovery and have remained in contact with his representatives. While no deal is imminent, and no formal workout has taken place, there is mutual interest in gauging whether a reunion could benefit both sides.

Oladipo is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab from the left patellar tendon surgery that sidelined him for all of the 2023-24 season and much of 2024-25. If his health holds and he proves capable of contributing at even a fraction of his former self, the Pacers may explore offering him a training camp invite or a veteran’s minimum deal with partial guarantees.

The timing of this possibility aligns with Indiana’s broader strategic window. With Tyrese Haliburton entrenched as the franchise cornerstone and a young supporting cast that includes Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers are emerging as legitimate contenders in the East. Adding a savvy veteran like Oladipo, who knows the organization, the city, and the culture, could serve as both a stabilizing force in the locker room and a high-upside depth play.

During his first stint with the Pacers, Oladipo made two All-Star teams (2018, 2019), earned All-NBA Third Team honors, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He also won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2018. In that season, he averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while helping Indiana push LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in a memorable first-round playoff series.

It was the perfect fit, both basketball-wise and emotionally. Oladipo embraced Indiana as his own. The fans loved his explosiveness, his intensity on both ends of the floor, and his work ethic. His mid-range pull-up, his fearless drives to the rim, and his perimeter defense made him one of the league’s most complete two-way guards at his peak.

But after his quad injury in 2019, things were never quite the same.

He returned in January 2020 after nearly a full year off but struggled to regain his rhythm. The COVID-19 pandemic cut that season short and altered league dynamics. By January 2021, Oladipo was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of the James Harden blockbuster deal. He then bounced to Miami and eventually found himself sidelined again, this time due to multiple lower-body surgeries that limited his availability and sapped much of his burst.

Still, through it all, Oladipo never publicly gave up on the idea of returning to the player he once was—or close to it. He continued working out in Miami, often posting glimpses of his rehab and training regimen on social media. He’s been active in his community and remains a respected voice in locker rooms, even when not suiting up.

Now at age 33, Oladipo is at a crossroads. He’s no longer a headlining free agent, but he may still have a role in today’s NBA—particularly in a league that values defensive versatility, veteran presence, and secondary shot creation.

From the Pacers’ standpoint, the idea of bringing him back has low risk and moderate reward. Even if he never regains full explosiveness, Oladipo could serve as a defensive specialist off the bench, a mentor to the younger guards, and an emergency scorer in late-clock situations. For a team with rising aspirations but limited cap space flexibility, these kinds of veteran additions can often be the difference between a first-round exit and a deeper playoff run.

Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle, when asked broadly about veteran leadership and depth in recent interviews, has emphasized the importance of “character guys who’ve seen a lot, overcome a lot, and still want to compete at the highest level.” While he didn’t mention Oladipo by name, the description fits the veteran guard perfectly.

Oladipo’s desire to return to Indiana also stems from his appreciation for the support he received during his most difficult periods. The fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse were among the first to chant his name again after injury. His connection to the franchise runs deeper than just basketball—he’s been active in local charities, performed musically in the city, and expressed countless times that his most fulfilling NBA memories were made in Indiana.

Whether or not a deal materializes remains to be seen. The Pacers are expected to evaluate all their options in the backcourt before training camp opens, and Oladipo may also draw interest from other franchises seeking depth and experience. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, or even a reunion with Miami could be in play depending on how the guard market shakes out during the late offseason.

Still, the strongest buzz right now points back to where it all blossomed for Oladipo.

If the Pacers do offer him a contract, it’s likely to come with certain caveats—non-guaranteed money, performance incentives, or a camp invite with no guaranteed roster spot. But for Oladipo, even that opportunity could be worth its weight in gold. A chance to prove he belongs again, to rewrite the final chapter of his NBA story in a city that never stopped believing in him, may be the redemption arc he’s been fighting for.

And for the Pacers, the move would send a message: that loyalty matters, that history has weight, and that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to honor the past.

As the 2025 offseason rolls on and training camps near, all eyes will be on Victor Oladipo’s next move. The stage may soon be set for one of the most heartwarming comebacks in recent NBA memory—and if it happens, it could very well begin where the magic once sparked: right in the heart of Indiana.