Victor Oladipo, who is reportedly attempting an NBA comeback, was spotted at Wednesday's Indiana Fever game against the Phoenix Mercury, and fans are going crazy.
Former Pacers All-Star guard Victor Oladipo is courtside for Fever-Mercury.#feathery pic.twitter.com/q5LkYI4a3U
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 31, 2025
Oladipo, who played for the Pacers from 2017 to 2021, has been linked to the team for a possible reunion as he looks to return to the league. Not only was Indiana the betting favorite to land Oladipo not too long ago, but they are also holding a competition to determine who will start at shooting guard next season alongside Andrew Nembhard.
After the Indiana alum was seen at the Fever game, many fans took it as a sign of something bigger. More specifically, they believe this means that Oladipo will return to the Pacers.
"Scott this gives me a [feeling] that he might be a pacer next season," one fan wrote on X.
"Vic n Andrew backcourt would be sick," a second fan wrote.
"Oladipo return is loading," wrote another fan.
"Why not on a veteran minimum one year deal," another fan wrote about the Pacers possibly signing Oladipo.
"I’d expect an apology given the way he left, but I would still welcome him back with open arms. He, more than most, deserve[s] a second chance," another fan wrote.
A Victor Oladipo-Pacers reunion could be a big mistake
While some fans are excited about the prospect of Oladipo returning to Indiana, many others likely feel the complete opposite way.
The Maryland native played his best basketball with the Pacers, becoming a two-time All-Star, an All-NBA Third Team selection, and an All-Defensive First Team selection. Furthermore, he took home the Most Improved Player award in 2018. For a while, he looked like he would be the team's next star immediately following the Paul George trade. Though it started off that way, it ended on a sour note.
That was a long time ago, and it is fair to say some fans should forgive Oladipo for the way he left, particularly by throwing shade at the team. This would especially be true if the Pacers opt to bring him back anyway. However, personal feelings aside, bringing Oladipo back to Indiana would be questionable for a few reasons.
While Oladipo was fantastic during his time in Indiana, he has been gone from the team for four years. Additionally, he has not played in the NBA in over two years, and he just turned 33 years old in May.
If Oladipo can still play and contribute at a high level, it could maybe make sense for the Pacers to bring him back on a cheap deal. However, they are in for what most expect to be a gap year, and they likely will not be serious title contenders again for at least another season.
Additionally, the Pacers have a great opportunity ahead of them to be able to show off some of their younger talent. With Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf for all of next season, the Pacers will be able to experiment a bit and see what some of their other guys can bring to the table. This especially applies to the shooting guard position, where players like Bennedict Mathurin and Johnny Furphy should have an opportunity to break out and establish themselves as long-term contributors. Bringing Oladipo into the mix might get rid of this opportunity for the Pacers, which is not a risk worth taking.
Ultimately, all Oladipo did was attend a WNBA game in Indiana. Whether this is a sign of something bigger or not remains to be seen, but as it stands, there are few reasons to believe an Oladipo return to the Pacers is inevitable. At least for now.