http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3316689 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden participated in a pick-up basketball game at a 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. "I know he is excited to be moving again, but as I talked to him about it he said 'Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...'. And I was like -- 'I really don't care',"' McMillan said. "The thing is, we were surprised. So we let him know that he doesn't need to be there. We have plenty of workout equipment and gym space at our facility." After Oden took part in two pickup games Wednesday night one of the participants went home and posted an account on the internet. By Thursday morning, word had gotten back to the Blazers, who were in Oakland, Calif., for a game against Golden State. McMillan said he then called Oden. "Right now, these young guys don't know their value," McMillan said. "That's part of growing up and maturing. In a couple of years he will understand how stupid that was. I understand it, because I've done it.'' @ Oden... Hopefully nothing happened to him.
Remember when Jordan played on a healing broken foot at North Carolina? He had the same injury as Yao and the team was taking it slow, he was out and felt good so he was playing pickup games at NCarolina and basically forced the Bulls to go ahead and activate him. DD
He's making a joke about his face. <object width="464" height="388" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf?5954" /><param name="flashvars" value="key=4769" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed width="464" height="388" flashvars="key=4769" allowfullscreen="true" quality="high" src="http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf?5954" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><noscript><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4769">Future Lebron James</a> on <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/">FunnyOrDie.com</a></noscript>
You know, this actually bodes well for the Blazers. Often times, the problem with big men is that they only really play basketball because they happen to be big. If this guy is playing pick up games as soon as he's able, that's a pretty good indicator he actually likes to play basketball. The guys who don't never get any better.
