Oden, 22, hasn't played since amazing way: that's how many of his NBA seasons have ended because of an injury. Oden, the Portland Trail Blazers center of attention who was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, will have microfracture surgery on his left knee and will not play this season.
"It's just actually sad," Blazers Coach Nate McMillan said Wednesday night. "Shameful news to hear."
Oden, 22, hasn't played since Dec, when he had operating theater to repair a broken left kneecap. This time, the Blazers said, he will have surgery Friday in Vail, Colo., to repair damaged gristle. This injury is unrelated to the kneecap injury, the team says, and appears unrelated to any incident.
Oden, who lost his cub season because of microfracture surgery on his right genu, was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks when he broke his kneecap last year. Because he is injury-prone, the Blazers said last calendar month that they would not offer him a shrink extension, qualification him the first No. 1 pick since the Wizards' Kwame Brown to fail to get one at the end of his rookie season. That means Oden will be a restricted free agent July 1, although Porrtland would be able to match any offers for him.
Over his four seasons, Oden has played in 82 games, one full NBA time of year
