Greg Oden to have another Microfracture surgery; out for season

[RJ87]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

it disappoints me when people make sensationalist accusations like this with no proof. unless you personally shot him up at 16 or 17, then you should attribute his injury problems to that.

he broke his hip when he was fairly young and has walked with a limp since, it's hard to stay structurally healthy when your gait is irregular like that.

[Eja117]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

it disappoints me when people make sensationalist accusations like this with no proof. unless you personally shot him up at 16 or 17, then you should attribute his injury problems to that.

he broke his hip when he was fairly young and has walked with a limp since, it's hard to stay structurally healthy when your gait is irregular like that.

Yeah yeah yeah.  And Barry Bonds just has a big head.  I don't give pro "athletes" the benefit of the doubt any more.

[pearljammer10]

Amazing... Remember when everyone on this board thought David Stern purposely screwed us by "not giving us the number one pick" and everyone was crying over not getting Oden...


My how the tables have turned.

[GreenEnvy]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

What makes you believe he did anything like that?

I remember reading an article years ago that Oden seemed older than he was. I think it was TSG who wrote about he looked like an old man walking, and compared him to some other 7-footers who almost glide effortlessly, given their size.

He probably has some sort of bone/growth problem. He won't be the first player with constant injury problems at such a young age. There's no reason to allege he is/was doing something illegal, unless you know something most don't.

It's truly sad for him, the organization, and the fans. I hope someday he is able to string together a solid stretch of NBA years.

You never like to hear about these types of injuries, but to someone like this, it is almost gut-wrenching.


I will probably never forget that lottery night in 2007, and how awful I felt when we missed out on both Oden and Durant. It's truly astonishing what happened since.

[zerophase]

I think that now you have to conclude he's going to be a bust. He's still a great player on the court but I don't think we'll ever be healthy long enough to be great... he's kinda like Yao right now.

A thousand times more grateful we did not win that draft.

[Eja117]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

What makes you believe he did anything like that?

I remember reading an article years ago that Oden seemed older than he was. I think it was TSG who wrote about he looked like an old man walking, and compared him to some other 7-footers who almost glide effortlessly, given their size.

He probably has some sort of bone/growth problem. He won't be the first player with constant injury problems at such a young age. There's no reason to allege he is/was doing something illegal, unless you know something most don't.

It's truly sad for him, the organization, and the fans. I hope someday he is able to string together a solid stretch of NBA years.

You never like to hear about these types of injuries, but to someone like this, it is almost gut-wrenching.


I will probably never forget that lottery night in 2007, and how awful I felt when we missed out on both Oden and Durant. It's truly astonishing what happened since.

When players do absurdly amazing things like...oh I don't know...survive cancer and then go on to be by far the best athlete of their time....or ...they go to the NFL combine and run like  a wide receiver and put up more weight than any player by a lot despite being nowhere near the biggest....then I decide that instead of believing the fairy tale, since i have a basic understanding of the human body I come to the conclusion "that's probably not right".

Especially now that they catch guys left and right.

I look at Oden and he doesn't look right now, never did, and gets injuries consistent with abuse of substances.  He looked like he was 40 when he was 18. 

I could be wrong. I hope I am.  But I don't trust athletes as far as I can throw them anymore when it comes to these things.

[radiohead]

This is sad news indeed. I wonder if there'd be any team that would gamble on him nest season. Knowing how Danny has a penchant for giving "busts" a second chance, I wouldn't be surprised to see if he makes a run at Oden. He could be our next Bill Walton perhaps?

[GreenEnvy]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

What makes you believe he did anything like that?

I remember reading an article years ago that Oden seemed older than he was. I think it was TSG who wrote about he looked like an old man walking, and compared him to some other 7-footers who almost glide effortlessly, given their size.

He probably has some sort of bone/growth problem. He won't be the first player with constant injury problems at such a young age. There's no reason to allege he is/was doing something illegal, unless you know something most don't.

It's truly sad for him, the organization, and the fans. I hope someday he is able to string together a solid stretch of NBA years.

You never like to hear about these types of injuries, but to someone like this, it is almost gut-wrenching.


I will probably never forget that lottery night in 2007, and how awful I felt when we missed out on both Oden and Durant. It's truly astonishing what happened since.

When players do absurdly amazing things like...oh I don't know...survive cancer and then go on to be by far the best athlete of their time....or ...they go to the NFL combine and run like  a wide receiver and put up more weight than any player by a lot despite being nowhere near the biggest....then I decide that instead of believing the fairy tale, since i have a basic understanding of the human body I come to the conclusion "that's probably not right".

Especially now that they catch guys left and right.

I look at Oden and he doesn't look right now, never did, and gets injuries consistent with abuse of substances.  He looked like he was 40 when he was 18. 

I could be wrong. I hope I am.  But I don't trust athletes as far as I can throw them anymore when it comes to these things.

Isn't there a big difference between those types of athletes you mentioned and simply a 7-foot teenager. He doesn't have the strength of somebody who was (ab)using steroids. And considering I heard about Greg Oden in Sports Illustrated when he was a freshman in high school, I'm guessing he did not have some huge spike in height because of HGH.

He is not a player who has muscle on top of muscle, came back from disease (which Lester did too and he is one of the best pitchers in the AL...steroids?), or was known for his physical abilities.

But I could be wrong, but that wouldn't necessarily make you right. You might as well start pointing the finger at every professional athlete. Blake Griffin - 'roids. Shaun Livingston - HGH. Man, what on Earth did Balco supply Vince Carter with back in the day?


Regardless, it's sad when a player is trying his hardest and really wants to play and injuries keep preventing him from doing it. From all accounts he is a good kid, so it is unfortunate.

[Who]

Ah no, that is depressing news. Poor Greg.

The Lakers stronghold on the West just tightened. Portland are out of the mix and Houston are struggling. OKC, San An and Dallas as second tier contenders are the main hope in stopping LA from making a fourth consecutive Finals appearance.

[Tai]

I disagree it's sad. When you do roids and HGH at the age of 16 or 17 these things happen. Plus you get millions to do it.  It's sad for Portland fans, but not him.  Or maybe he just suffers from gigantism.  But I have my doubts.

What makes you believe he did anything like that?

I remember reading an article years ago that Oden seemed older than he was. I think it was TSG who wrote about he looked like an old man walking, and compared him to some other 7-footers who almost glide effortlessly, given their size.

He probably has some sort of bone/growth problem. He won't be the first player with constant injury problems at such a young age. There's no reason to allege he is/was doing something illegal, unless you know something most don't.

It's truly sad for him, the organization, and the fans. I hope someday he is able to string together a solid stretch of NBA years.

You never like to hear about these types of injuries, but to someone like this, it is almost gut-wrenching.


I will probably never forget that lottery night in 2007, and how awful I felt when we missed out on both Oden and Durant. It's truly astonishing what happened since.

When players do absurdly amazing things like...oh I don't know...survive cancer and then go on to be by far the best athlete of their time....or ...they go to the NFL combine and run like  a wide receiver and put up more weight than any player by a lot despite being nowhere near the biggest....then I decide that instead of believing the fairy tale, since i have a basic understanding of the human body I come to the conclusion "that's probably not right".

Especially now that they catch guys left and right.

I look at Oden and he doesn't look right now, never did, and gets injuries consistent with abuse of substances.  He looked like he was 40 when he was 18. 

I could be wrong. I hope I am.  But I don't trust athletes as far as I can throw them anymore when it comes to these things.

So, are you actually certified in the medical field?

[FallGuy]

Is the Rose Garden built on an Indian Burial ground or something? Roy and Oden?

[freshinthehouse]

Wow - this is tough. But he is still young.

I would say that you don't give up, even with this setback. He gets this surgery done, and he's 23?

I'm no medical expert by any stretch, but do you just give up as a player, even with this latest event?

Agree.  That microfracture surgery isn't the career death sentence it once was.  He is still young enough to come back and resume his career.

[NoraG1]

Wow - this is tough. But he is still young.

I would say that you don't give up, even with this setback. He gets this surgery done, and he's 23?

I'm no medical expert by any stretch, but do you just give up as a player, even with this latest event?

Agree.  That microfracture surgery isn't the career death sentence it once was.  He is still young enough to come back and resume his career.

Well this will already be his 2nd one. He is on the path to be 'what could have been' injury prone players.

[Bahku]

Oden would get my vote for the most anti-climactic NBA career of the decade ... this is just amazingly disappointing. A number one pick who has barely had a chance to even begin proving his worth ... and imagine what this does to a professional athlete's psyche?!? Wow.

I truly hope this doesn't become any more chronic than it has, and that he eventually gets an opportunity to shine. He's an incredibly talented young man, and just an all-around nice guy. I wonder if he's been tested for bone density deficiencies ... seems like this is more the symptom of a larger problem, not just a coincidence of injury.

I feel incredibly bad for this kid.

[Drucci]

Sad news for Oden and the Blazers but I think it's legitimate to call him a bust now.