Oden has third microfracture surgery

[Andrew]

Former top pick Oden has 3rd microfracture surgery

Greg Oden has suffered yet another setback with his troublesome knees.

The often-injured 7-foot center was undergoing a minor procedure Monday to clear out debris in his left knee in Vail, Colo., when the surgeon determined there was additional damage and performed microfracture surgery, the Portland Trail Blazers said.

The former No.1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft has now had two microfracture surgeries on his left knee, and one on his right. He has also undergone surgery for a fractured left kneecap.

The Blazers say Oden will not play this season.

At this point, it seems a safe bet to say that he's done. It sounds like he currently intends to give it another shot in a year or two, but the odds seem insurmountable. It's a real shame, he looked like he could be a legit NBA centre if only he could've stayed healthy. Best of luck to him if he does give it one more shot but it doesn't look good.

[JaoSming]

This just in, the sun rose today.

[Axel]

His knees are practically disintegrating on their own at this point; he wasn't participating in contact drills. He'd be better off on prosthetic than those bum knees of his.

[Andrew]

At this point, would you call him the worst number one pick or biggest bust in league history?

I think you could give him those labels but in some respects, it's not completely fair. What we saw from him while he was on the court wasn't unimpressive. He averaged a solid double double per 36, his raw stats weren't too bad for someone playing around half the game and there was definitely talent there. His career has been derailed by terrible luck rather than bad decisions, bad attitude or a lack of ability. It's a different situation to a LaRue Martin, Michael Olowokandi or Kwame Brown, who obviously didn't have "it" in one way or another and simply didn't live up to their potential or draft status.

[Lamrock]

I would have to. While he was better than a lot of other #1 picks in the 88 games he played, he still played 88 games.

[benji]

I'd rather pay Greg Oden $22 million for 88 games and 1900 minutes than $21 million to Michael Olowokandi for 323 games and nearly 10000 minutes. So no.

[Andrew]

Good point.

It just feels like he should be in a different category as far as busts go, as though there should be an asterisk there. He's a victim of terrible luck more than bad decisions, bad attitude or complete lack of talent.

[benji]

To go back to another thing I harp on, I still think you have to really look at the information you had at the time.

There were concerns about Oden's knees (and age) but I don't think anyone thought he'd basically never play. I mean DeJuan Blair had known worse knees at the time and he's been fine.

If Oden played ten seasons at even the level of his rookie season there'd still be talk about it being a blunder taking him before Durant but nobody would call him a bust. If he played like his 20 games or whatever in the second season he'd be on a bunch of All-Star teams, the Blazers would win 60 games a bunch of times (until Roy retired anyway) and you'd have a real debate about whether he was the best pick in the draft. In comparison Olowokandi did play like ten seasons, got tons of minutes and he's an obvious bust.

You could try something like saying in hindsight the pick was a bust, the Blazers should have taken Durant, but then the Sonics would have taken Oden and then their pick would be a bust as they should have taken Horford, etc. And then you can say Oden isn't a bust and has just had his career derailed.

The favorite comparison of Sam Bowie doesn't work because even when healthy Bowie was never as good as Oden, just solid. (Which gets you into all these hypotheticals about what if he's not always coming back from injuries maybe he develops into a 20/10 guy with 5 blocks, blah blah blah around and around we go.)

[Andrew]

I agree. I think that technically he has to be called a bust and in hindsight a disappointment as the number one pick because when it comes down to it, he's played 88 games in five seasons and right now seems unlikely to ever play again. However, you've got to note what he was able to do when he was on the court and the circumstances that have affected his career. Even if we're to call him a bust, he's not a bust like Olowokandi was a bust.

[Solaris Phase Two]

Good luck to oden and yao and roy. Hope they all return one day

[rise]

Probably stupid at this point, but I'm still hoping he's able to get back on the court sometime in the 2013-14 or 2017-18 season.

[CheddahCheese]

Why in the world did the Blazers qualify his offer last year for about $8.8 million? Just dumb.

The Blazers might be cursed, seriously. First Oden and then Brandon Roy. 2 franchise players..gone. Just like that. Not fair to probably the best fan base in the NBA.

Imagine if Roy and Oden were healthy every year. Blazers would be contenders.

[benji]

Why in the world did the Blazers qualify his offer last year for about $8.8 million? Just dumb.

They were required to, that value is set as the rookie scale.

In any case, he didn't accept it and instead signed for about $1.5 million to help the team.

[CheddahCheese]

good info, benji. didn't know that.

[koberulz]

Good luck to oden and yao and roy. Hope they all return one day

You do realise Yao and Roy have both retired?

[Andrew]

For what it's worth: Oden Has No Plans To Retire

Greg Oden has no intention of calling it quits, according to a source close to the situation.

"It's hard to put into words the heartbreak for everyone involved, but especially for Greg," said Blazers president Larry Miller. "He's a young man who has experienced a great number of physical challenges in his playing career and today is yet another significant setback for him. We have a lot of empathy for Greg and his family during this difficult time."

Oden has appeared in just 82 games over the last five seasons.

"Greg's still very young, in relative terms, for a professional basketball player," acting GM Chad Buchanan told reporters. "He's recovered from a couple of these before. His last two microfracture lesions have healed fine. So there's no reason to think he couldn't come back as long as he shows the work ethic and desire that he's had in the past to come back. I think it's premature to speculate anything beyond that."

I can't help but admire his determination, but it just doesn't look good at this point.

[Mavs4Life]

He can certainly try whenever those knees finally let him play, but I also have low expectations.

[Axel]

To go back to another thing I harp on, I still think you have to really look at the information you had at the time.

There were concerns about Oden's knees (and age) but I don't think anyone thought he'd basically never play. I mean DeJuan Blair had known worse knees at the time and he's been fine.

If Oden played ten seasons at even the level of his rookie season there'd still be talk about it being a blunder taking him before Durant but nobody would call him a bust. If he played like his 20 games or whatever in the second season he'd be on a bunch of All-Star teams, the Blazers would win 60 games a bunch of times (until Roy retired anyway) and you'd have a real debate about whether he was the best pick in the draft. In comparison Olowokandi did play like ten seasons, got tons of minutes and he's an obvious bust.

You could try something like saying in hindsight the pick was a bust, the Blazers should have taken Durant, but then the Sonics would have taken Oden and then their pick would be a bust as they should have taken Horford, etc.[b] And then you can say Oden isn't a bust and has just had his career derailed.

The favorite comparison of Sam Bowie doesn't work because even when healthy Bowie was never as good as Oden, just solid. (Which gets you into all these hypotheticals about what if he's not always coming back from injuries maybe he develops into a 20/10 guy with 5 blocks, blah blah blah around and around we go.)

Yes, his career was derailed by forces outside of his control. Does that make him any less of a bust? I don't think so. For one, I don't think you can separate the injuries from the overall judgment of him, as a basketball player. Injuries are a part of sports. A good athlete is not just one who can perform now and then, but consistently. Having the physical stamina, conditioning, and genetic makeup to avoid injury are important factors in the overall judgment of a player, and you can bet that NBA scouts are looking at this.

I think the injuries make him even more of a bust than other #1's who have failed to deliver. This guy was never cut out for the NBA, period. His knees were already gone by the time he got here. The only thing he has contributed is a picture of his dick.

[_Steve_]

Good luck to oden and yao and roy. Hope they all return one day

You do realise Yao and Roy have both retired?

While Yao's retirement was once and for all, Roy indicated that there may be a very slim chance that he might return from retirement one day...

[bowdown]

Good luck to oden and yao and roy. Hope they all return one day

You do realise Yao and Roy have both retired?

While Yao's retirement was once and for all, Roy indicated that there may be a very slim chance that he might return from retirement one day...

No. I dont think so. Can you find it as a quote or in an article if that is the case please? Roy's knees are progressively getting worse. No amount of time off is going to magically regrow the meniscus which no longer exists in both his knees. He said he is retiring for his health concern and his family. The more he plays the quicker he ends up in a wheel chair

[_Steve_]

Good luck to oden and yao and roy. Hope they all return one day

You do realise Yao and Roy have both retired?

While Yao's retirement was once and for all, Roy indicated that there may be a very slim chance that he might return from retirement one day...

No. I dont think so. Can you find it as a quote or in an article if that is the case please? Roy's knees are progressively getting worse. No amount of time off is going to magically regrow the meniscus which no longer exists in both his knees. He said he is retiring for his health concern and his family. The more he plays the quicker he ends up in a wheel chair

I used subjunctive together with "very slim chance" for a reason.
Technically he is/ was available so he could be claimed of waivers. http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nba/1256/brandon-roy
It were speculations like that which let me hope he could return some day.

[kibaxx7]

I really don't see him coming back and make a solid contribution. It's a shame for him.

Imagine if Roy and Oden were healthy every year. Blazers would be contenders.

Imagine if the Blazers drafted Durant.

[NovU]

Wow. KneeLess Blazers.

Just sad at what could have been so great.

[shadowgrin]

Imagine if the Blazers drafted Durant.

Durant will be injured and without knees. Blazers medical staff blows.

[[Q]]

Oden will not play next season.
that guarantees that in 6 possible nba seasons he's only played in what amounts to 1 season. then admits he had an alcohol problem.

"For starters, Portland isn't a great city to live in if you're a young, African American male with a lot of money," Oden said. "But that's especially true if you don't have anybody to guide you. Since I was hurt the entire season, I was on my own a bunch and didn't have veteran teammates around to help me adapt to the NBA lifestyle."