Oden Out for his rookie year

[Scott M]

Greg Oden will likely miss the 2007-2008 season after undergoing knee surgery Thursday. Doctors found cartilage damage during an exploratory procedure, and team physician Dr. Don Roberts performed microfracture surgery to repair the damage.

"There are things about this that are positive for Greg," Roberts said in a statement posted on the Trail Blazers' Web site. "First of all, he is young. The area where the damage was is small and the rest of his knee looked normal. All those are good signs for a complete recovery from microfracture surgery."

The 7-foot center is expected to be on crutches for up to eight weeks. It likely will take 6 to 12 months for full recovery, the team said.

The Trail Blazers will hold a 4:30 p.m. ET news conference to discuss Oden's situation. The procedure was performed in Vancouver, Wash.

"Certainly this is a setback, but our future is still incredibly bright," Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. "Is it disappointing? Yes. However, this is a great core of talent and players of strong character and will continue to be."

Oden described the knee pain in an entry Tuesday on his personal blog:

"On my vacation earlier this summer i got up off the couch and remember my knee having a sharp pain in it. That was about a month ago. I didn't tell anyone because i didn't want to seem like i was complaining or making excuses for anything. Plus i wasn't doing anything at the time i realized it hurt, so i figured it couldn't be anything big.

"After a couple of weeks, i had to finally tell someone so i went to St. Vincent's Sports Performance (where i worked out at before draft) and got my knee looked at. That was right before i moved to Portland for good. My knee was swollen since i was there. I finally just said that i need to tell my trainer because this is not normal. We went to the doctor's the next day to get a MRI and that night me and my mom ended up in the doctor's office being told that I have to get surgery. It's a light one, just a scoop, but still it's just another setback. I would like for me to be playing and not seem like i'm a high-maintenance player, but things just keep popping up."

If Oden does not play this season, he would become only the second player in the common draft (1966-present) to be selected No. 1 overall and not play in the year of his selection. David Robinson was drafted by San Antonio in 1987 but instead honored his Naval commitment.

This is Oden's second health problem since the Blazers drafted him in June. He had a tonsillectomy in July after struggling in two Las Vegas summer league games.

Oden, despite being hampered by a wrist injury during his freshman (and only) season at Ohio State, averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds in leading the Buckeyes to the national championship game. He had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Florida.

The Trail Blazers were the surprise winners of the NBA draft lottery and chose Oden over Texas forward Kevin Durant, who went to Seattle. Portland opens training camp on Oct. 2 and its regular-season opener is at San Antonio on Oct. 30.

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My thoughts are he knew about it but he wasn't gonna say anything until he was drafted and the ink on his contract was dry.

The Blazers are still a good team but really thin at Center. Przbilla will get to continue to start this means and then they have undersized guys to back him up. Plus they could use an upgrade at PG. Jarrett Jack and Steve Blake don't cut it in the NBA.

Maybe they will get in the lottery again and by next year be an even tougher team.

[riversmallmouth35]

That really stinks for portland. They were looking good. It makes our division a little easier though.

[ozzie]

this is too bad for portland fans but to be honest with you I didn't think he has ever proved anything to be #1 besides one good game and potential that he has rarely displayed.....I am not sure on how great Durant will be but I think the wolves got a good pick in Brewer!!! Hoffard could be the only other guy that would have looked better in a wolves uni!!!

[PierBridge]

Whoa Ozzie thats a crazy evaluation of Odens talent to say the least.

Cartilage surgery and your out for a year thats sounds a bit crazy also must have been torn up pretty good in there.

[ozzie]

what has he proved???? Yes he is big and strong and has shown that he is a good shot blocker but that was in college....he never had a game that he scored alot in that meade you think "WOW"......he has a great upside in potential with a big body but until he shows that he can score against true big men I am still skeptical....I still think he could be great but I just haven't been sold yet and now I will have to wait another year........

He had microfracture surgery the same thing that Mccants had and Amare Stoudamire (sp) for Phoenix!!

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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what has he proved????

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Not sure what you even mean to be honest....

I'll concede he hasn't proven anything in the NBA.....mainly because he hasn't played yet.

Are there players who have proven them self in NBA before playing?

Anywho I guess you and me along with NBA scouts and employees have been watching a different player.

[ozzie]

I am not saying he didn't deserve to be the number 1 pick.....he definatly should have been.....but I just have not been sold on the fact that he will have the kind of impact that people are portraying.......i am probably off on this judgement but it is just what I think.......I just hope Brewer ends up in 5 years as the best player from the 2007 draft!!!

[PierBridge]

Not the kind of injury to start off a career with.

I see your point he is still a bit of project like most young bigmen and there is no real way to forsee how good he'll be in the League.

I don't know much about Brewer but I hope your right.

[lookincalifornia]

i was much more impressed with oden last year.

durant would score 20 in the first half, then 5 the second. he didn't move without the ball in the second half or play much D. it didn't surpise me that he can't bench his own weight. oden was a defense and offensive threat. pluss he has connely and a couple of other shooters who's names escape me. so he didn't always have to score 25 for his team to get to the ncaa championship. if you can score with both hands, it makes the game alot easier for you.

i do think that modern medicine will give this guy 10 great years before he starts to get hurt again. big guys don't last all that long, unless you are tim duncan. maybe more guys will aspire to be "soft" and play at a high level for ever and win lots of championships