Greg Oden Out for Season, Will Have Microfracture Knee Surgery

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Injuries

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden will undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, the team announced Wednesday.



The team did not announce a date for the procedure, which will take place at the the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., where Dr. Richard Steadman and Blazers orthopedic surgeon Dr. Don Roberts will perform the surgery.



Oden, who previously underwent microfracture surgery in Sept. 2007, has not played in a game since Dec. 5, 2009, when he fractured his left patella in a game against the Houston Rockets. An MRI showed damaged cartilage to the surface of his femur, an injury that is unrelated to his left patella.



The top overall pick in the 2007 draft, Oden, 22, has averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds in 82 games over parts of two seasons from 2008-09.



Injuries, though, have haunted the former Ohio State star, who was one of the most sought-after NBA prospects in recent memory. Hyperbolic or not, many compared his defensive instincts to those of Bill Russell heading into a draft in which he was chosen ahead of reigning NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/17/greg-oden-out-for-season-will-have-microfracture-knee-surgery/