Greg Oden Out, But Not Down

It's hard to recognize Greg Oden these days, other than that he is almost always the biggest man in the room.

He's growing out his hair, and he has added more than 40 pounds to his frame since he last was seen on a basketball court. But for now, he is a forgotten phenom both in Portland , where the Trail Blazers are thriving even without their No. 1 overall pick, and across the NBA landscape.

Left to work on short shots without jumping and free throws while his teammates practice, he even looks the part of being the odd man out. All due to the most serious of knee surgeries, the microfracture procedure he had performed on his right knee in September that knocked him out for the season.

''I want to be out there so bad. When they are winning they are all happy and I want to be a part of that happiness,'' Oden said. ''But them being that way lightens everything up, including me.''

Oden's recovery is proceeding according to plan, but he's still nowhere near ready to start playing again. He's not expected to be at 100 percent even at the start of next season.

But the former Ohio State star is trying to make the best of it in the interim. He's focused on weight lifting, which has added muscle everywhere. He has gotten to know his new town and adjusted to being a long way from his home in Indianapolis . And he's even planning on returning to Columbus this summer to take some classes.

''I'm more mature than I was; everybody has to grow up and move away from home,'' Oden said. ''It's not bad; I've got people here. Of course, I miss college life, but I'm not going to lie, this life is a lot better. I like getting a check.''

 

 

 

 

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