The Indiana Pacers are getting set to resume the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando after a long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Victor Oladipo was starting to figure things out after returning from a ruptured quad tendon prior to the league suspension, and there is some speculation about whether or not he will end up playing when the season resumes.

In a quote shared by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Oladipo opened up a bit about his thoughts on playing. He made it clear he will try to ramp things up to continue the season with the Pacers, but everything will depend on how his body is feeling:

“I feel a whole lot better,” Oladipo told ESPN. “I know there's risk going into it with the unique situation that I'm in — being off so long and trying to ramp it up that fast. I've just got to be smart, that's all.”

Obviously, that has left some in Indiana worried Oladipo may not end up returning this season. However, the Pacers should be happy their star seems to want to play. Simply being willing to ramp things up and give it a shot is a good sign.

Heading into the resumption of the season, the Pacers are not being viewed as a legitimate contender. At this point in time, they hold a 39-26 record, which places them in the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. Teams will have eight games to play prior to the playoffs, which means the Pacers could end up moving up or down in the seedings.

Knicks, Victor Oladipo

Prior to the suspension of play, Oladipo played in 13 games and started 10 of them. He averaged 13.8 points to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. His shot was struggling a bit at just 39.1 percent from the field overall and 30.4 percent from the 3-point line.

All of that being said, if Oladipo does decide to play for the Pacers in Orlando, what should the team be expecting from him?

Oladipo Isn't Going To Be A Superstar

Let's be real about the situation. Oladipo was starting to look like his old self prior to the suspension of the season, but he was not the All-Star and borderline superstar many viewed him as before the injury.

No one should expect Oladipo to come back and be a superstar in Orlando. He will be a very good player who would help the Pacers compete in the playoffs, but he isn't going to be a 30-point threat every night. Indiana would be much better with him on the court, but the expectations need to be tempered.

He May Very Well Look Healthier

Even though he isn't going to play at a superstar level, it would be reasonable to expect Oladipo to look healthier than he was prior to the break in play. The Pacers' franchise face has had more time to work his way up to 100 percent. However, the fact that he is uncertain about playing or not seems to hint at the fact that he isn't 100 percent back.

Victor Oladipo, Pacers

Oladipo looked solid in the few games before the suspension. He was starting to get aggressive offensively and was putting forth a lot of effort on defense. From a purely athletic standpoint, Oladipo may very well look healthier and better than he did.

A Much More Aggressive Version Of Himself

Finally, the time Oladipo has had throughout the break in play has given him time to mentally prepare himself more. Coming back from a serious injury like a ruptured quad tendon is no easy task. It takes time to mentally be ready to play, especially for an aggressive player like Oladipo.

In the 13 games he played with the Pacers, Oladipo looked hesitant at times. He didn't fully commit to the style of play fans in Indiana have come to know and love. The time away from the game to work out at his own pace and get stronger mentally should help Oladipo come back with a much more aggressive style of play if he chooses to play for the Pacers in Orlando.