Oden set to return
Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden should be ready for the start of the preseason, according to the Portland Tribune.
The No. 1 pick in last year’s NBA draft, Oden missed all of this past season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery in September.
“I totally expect Greg to be able to play in the preseason,” Blazers trainer Jay Jensen told the Tribune in a story published Thursday. “The knee looks fabulous and his body is unbelievably powerful. His lower extremities are ridiculously powerful.”
The Blazers are not expected to rush the 7-footer back onto the court full-time and will “gradually build him up” during the preseason, according to the report.
“He’ll play maybe every other day, and every other game,” Jensen told the newspaper.
Oden averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks during his one year at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes reach the National Championship game before losing to Florida.