C Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers)

[Buckskin86]

Published: March 05, 2008 11:09 pm

B-Sides: Greg Oden may be hurt, but he just threw down a huge influence dunk

By Mark Bennett
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE ? This move by Greg Oden doesn?t match a dazzling dunk or blocked shot on the ESPN highlights.

It?s better.

Like it or not, NBA players influence millions of youngsters with their feats, style and antics on the court. Oden hasn?t had that chance yet. Surgery on the basketball phenom?s injured knee forced him to sit out this season, his rookie year with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Yet, without even suiting up, Oden said something last week that every American kid can admire ? he intends to vote.

That alone doesn?t make him unique. Yes, his resume (a No. 1 draft pick), size (7-foot, 260 pounds) and latest haircut (a mohawk) set Oden apart from most 20-year-olds. But his civic-mindedness fits right in with record numbers of young people who?ve already voted in 2008 presidential nominating contests across the nation.

Terre Haute News, Terre Haute, Indiana- TribStar.com - B-Sides: Greg Oden may be hurt, but he just threw down a huge influence dunk

A look at what Oden stands for
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
RYAN WHITE
The Oregonian Staff

Last week, less than two hours after the news of Greg Oden's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president made it on to OregonLive, someone scribbled in the comments, "Disappointed in Oden -- thought he stood for some other things."

As closed-minded as that might be, it was not atypical. Politics is a contact sport, and woe the citizen who goes wading into it without proper protection. But since it was raised, let's show you just what Greg Oden stands for.

OregonLive.com: Everything Oregon

[osugrad21]

Dispatch
Oden's call from Obama turns out to be hair-raising

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:01 AM
By Rob Oller


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Greg Oden




CLEVELAND -- Thank goodness for short phone calls with presidential candidates. Otherwise, Greg Oden would have been exposed as the political imposter that -- he will tell you -- he is. Two weeks ago, the Portland Trail Blazers rookie center out of Ohio State received a call from Sen. Barack Obama -- a hookup orchestrated by Oden's agents and Obama's handlers -- to talk basketball and discuss what Oden was thinking when he cut his hair into a Mohawk.
"It was only a minute-and-a-half, which was nice. If I had to talk longer than three minutes I wouldn't have known what to say," Oden said yesterday before the Blazers played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Quicken Loans Arena.



Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Oden Practices For 45 Minutes

By: Wendell Maxey Last Updated: 3/12/08

A tease has never sounded so good.

After months of endless rehab, pool activity and even pilates, Greg Oden finally got some practice time on Wednesday afternoon with the Blazers.

Oden reportedly practiced for 45 minutes with Portland in Sacramento preparing to face the Kings on Thursday. According to Jason Quick of the Oregonian Oden, "jumped, dunked and took part in offensive plays alongside his teammates".

As for his teammates, they were left "dreaming" about the future of the Oden-era in Portland.

But before anyone gets too carried away, let's just put it out there since the Blazers already have: Oden will not play for Portland this season after enduring microfracture surgery on his right knee.

Period.

HOOPSWORLD | NBA News, Rumors and Information

Dreaming of Oden
Posted by Jason Quick, The Oregonian March 12, 2008

SACRAMENTO -- Even if it was only for a moment, some of the Trail Blazers on Wednesday found themselves dreaming.

Not about Thursday's game at Sacramento. Or the rapidly approaching offseason.

Their dreams were of what this Trail Blazers team can become next season, thanks to the season's first practice participation by prized rookie center Greg Oden, who jumped, dunked and took part in offensive plays alongside his teammates for about 45 minutes.

"It almost brought it back to preseason when he was in the gym working out and there was that buzz,'' Brandon Roy said. "I mean, this season wasn't bad, but you can still tell that he's going to be something special, and that's exciting. You think about all the players we can have next season, and you know, it's going to be all right. It's going to be cool.''


But for now, with 17 games left in this season, Wednesday served as what athletic trainer Jay Jensen called "a baby step" in Oden's recovery from microfracture surgery on his right knee, which occurred six months ago today.

"It was fun,'' Oden said, his practice t-shirt sporting a sweat-stained ring around his neck. "It felt good to get out there ... and I wasn't hurting at all.''

Dreaming of Oden - Behind The Blazers Beat - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com

[ScriptOhio]

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Portland's Greg Oden, watching from the bench at Milwaukee earlier this month, practiced with the Blazers for 45 minutes.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Portland Trail Blazers got a glimpse at their future when center Greg Oden, who has missed the entire season, practiced with the team for 45 minutes.
Oden, who is sitting out what would have been his rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee, jumped, dunked and took part in offensive plays with his teammates Wednesday, according to a report in The Oregonian.
"It was fun," Oden said afterward, according to the report. "It felt good to get out there ? and I wasn't hurting at all."
While Oden said he went through the drills at about half speed, he reportedly looked much like he did before his surgery, when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
"It's nice to see him get to this point, and to do it during the season," coach Nate McMillan said, according to the report. "If he is at this point right now, he should be in good shape come training camp [in October]."
Teammate Brandon Roy said Oden's surprise participation in practice gave the Blazers a lift and a look ahead to next season.
"It almost brought it back to preseason when he was in the gym working out and there was that buzz," Roy said, according to the report. "I mean, this season wasn't bad, but you can still tell that he's going to be something special, and that's exciting. You think about all the players we can have next season, and you know, it's going to be all right. It's going to be cool."
After going through plays and drills with his teammates, Oden worked out one-on-one with Blazers assistant Maurice Lucas.

Entire article: ESPN - Oden looks good in workout with Blazers - NBA

[krazeyk]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

...
Entire article: ESPN - Oden looks good in workout with Blazers - NBA

This is great to hear. I can't wait see if he can dominate the NBA lane like he did in college. I have a feeling he will make Buckeye fans everywhere proud. GO G.O.

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Oden practices with Trail Blazers teammates for first time since surgery

Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:17 PM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Greg Oden practiced with the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time since right knee surgery ended his season six months ago. Oden, the 7-foot center taken with the first pick in last year's draft, participated in offensive drills and even dunked during 45 minutes of work Wednesday. The Blazers were in Sacramento for Thursday night's game against the Kings.
?It was fun,? Oden told The Oregonian newspaper. ?It felt good to get out there ... and I wasn't hurting at all.?
Coach Nate McMillan surprised the team when he called players to participate in a drill -- and included Oden.
?There was somewhat of an uproar by the team,? McMillan said. ?Some of them said 'Greg?' and I was like, 'Yeah, Greg.?



Cont...

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Overheard: Greg Oden

Friday, March 14, 2008 6:15 AM




"It was fun. It felt good to get out there ? and I wasn't hurting at all." -- Greg Oden, top draft pick of the Portland Trail Blazers and a former Ohio State center. Oden has missed the entire season after right knee surgery, but he practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday.

[bkochmc]

I hardly ever watch Pardon The Interruption on ESPN but I saw Kornheiser and Wilbon were going to talk about Oden so I watched for a few minutes... both are rooting for him to get back on the court as they both thing (and we Buckeye fans know) that he is a genuinely nice guy... but like many articles have stated they do have concerns about his fragile health.

Here's hoping Oden's recovery continues to go well!

[SanAntonioBuck]

you need sophisticated? I got sophisticated!

Get better Oden. The NBA needs more awesome big men.

[Bestbuck36]

I've never bought an NBA basketball jersey before. I was the biggest Dominique Wilkins fan in grade school and I'm a huge Lebron fan now but I've never bought one of their jerseys. I just ordered Greg Oden's Portland Trail Blazers jersey and I intend on wearing it a lot next season!

[OregonBuckeye]

A steep road to the court - OregonLive.com

A steep road to the court

Climbing "The Hill" has become one of Greg Oden's regular rehab workouts

Sunday, March 23, 2008JASON QUICK

The Oregonian Staff

TIGARD -- Nate McMillan was huffing. And puffing. And sweating.
So when the Trail Blazers coach gave his assessment of a day in the life of

Greg Oden, it was with broken and gasping words.

"This," McMillan said, catching his breath before continuing. "This is the real deal. The kid is going to be all right."

The kid, of course, was Oden, the 20-year-old center for the Blazers who is spending his first NBA season on the sidelines while rehabbing a surgically repaired right knee. And the "real deal" was a steep, half-mile residential street in Tigard that in Blazers parlance has come to be known as "The Hill."

McMillan on Wednesday lived up to a recent promise he made to Oden to take part in one of his rehabilitation workouts. He made the promise in part out of curiosity to see what Oden has been doing, and in part to offer support for the player who has been somewhat detached from the team all season.

Continued...

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

A steep road to the court - OregonLive.com

you live in portland scout this puppy out oregon...

[OregonBuckeye]

Greg Oden
Portland Trail BlazersTim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs

When Oden returns next season, we'll all be reminded of just how athletic and big he is. But he's still somewhat raw offensively. So learning the low-post game from the fundamental master, Duncan, would go a long way towards getting Oden closer to being the offensive force he's destined to become. Oden should also mix in some Amare Stoudemire tapes, reminding him that sometimes he can just dominate people with his physical talent.

ESPN - Rookie Watch: Which veteran should Oden study? - NBA

[OregonBuckeye]

ESPN - Oden played in two pickup games at gym, Blazers upset - NBA

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden participated in a pickup basketball game at a 24 Hour Fitness facility in Tualatin, Ore., on Wednesday night, the Oregonian reported.

"We heard about that, and I talked to him today," coach Nate McMillan said. "I let him know he can't do that."

Oden is in the sixth month of his rehabilitation from microfracture surgery on his right knee. He is on schedule to return in time for training camp in October. Oden has been cleared to participate in light drills at practice and the team wants to control his running and jumping.

[BuckeyeMafia]

I'm glad to hear he's getting there. He'll just have to settle in and let thing himself get back to 100%. Loving the GOhawk too.