Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo has set a date for his return from a ruptured right quadriceps tendon, telling Stadium that he plans to make his season debut Jan. 29 against the Chicago Bulls.
"That could change. That might not change. Who knows?" Oladipo told Stadium in a video published Wednesday. "It's definitely good to have something to look forward to, especially after 12 months of wondering."
Oladipo's planned return in three weeks comes after the Pacers complete a five-game road trip. He has not played since suffering the injury Jan. 23 last season.
"I'm way stronger now than I was before, especially mentally," Oladipo told Stadium. "I just feel like nothing can faze me; I've been through the worst. My better days lie ahead."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski previously reported that Oladipo hoped to return to play in late January or early February.
The Pacers will complete the first half of the season without their All-Star guard, but they enter Wednesday in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 23-14.
