Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze has yet to practice with his new team due to issues with his visa. The Georgian big man has missed all of the Summer League already and is still stuck in his home country.

Bitadze detailed the less than ideal situation to Scott Agness of The Athletic.

“I couldn’t really go anywhere because I was waiting every day for an interview,” he said in his first interview since officially signing July 15. “I was waiting for them (the U.S. Embassy) to call me. It was really bad actually having to wait. I wanted to help those guys play with my team logo on and play in the Summer League, which would be a really good experience for me. I missed it.”

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It sounds like Bitadze is ready to represent the Pacers and show the NBA his talent. It's a shame that something like a work visa is preventing him from suiting up with his new teammates.

Pacers fans have been ready and waiting to see the EuroLeague star match up against the best talent in the world. Hopefully, NBA audiences will get a chance to see Bitadze play before the regular season tips off.

It would be nice to get a look at the center before he is thrown into the fire that is NBA basketball, and it would certainly give him a chance to hone his craft and prepare better than he could in Georgia.

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