As if Greg Oden's propensity for getting injured and sulking wasn't enough, it now seems that there's yet another problem that he has. It seems like he's spending a bit too much time partying, or at least that's the word on the street.The Big Lead transcribed part of a radio interview that Oregonion Blazers beat writer Jason Quick did recently, and this was what Quick said about Oden:
“I know where you’re going. I have certainly heard it. I don’t have any evidence … basically, what you’re [asking] is, is he a partier, enjoying his life, all that stuff. I can’t speak to that because I have not seen it. It has gotten back to me in various forms, but nobody from the team has said anything along those lines as far as being concerned or anything.”
Now, the question is what kind of partying are we talking about? Is it drinking? Smoking weed? Quick never says, but since Oden just turned 21 last month, I'll go with drinking. And hopefully he's drinking something better than Franzia.
Now, what's compounding this problem is that Oden is also still on the bench from a chipped kneecap he suffered from colliding with Corey Maggette on Feb. 12th. Although, it seems like head coach Nate McMillan isn't sure why that's the case exactly.
"I'm where everybody else is with it," McMillan said. "I get a daily update and we thought, everybody thought, that he would be moving by now, if not playing. But things just keep getting bumped back."
It seems as though it's up to Oden about when he comes back, judging by this quote.
"The doctor said it depends how I feel," Oden said. "If I feel I can go out and play, I can go out and play. I'm just trying to make sure it is better. I don't want to re-injure it if I do come back."
I understand that Oden wants to be healthy, but there's also this thing called athletes playing while they're injured, provided the injury isn't that bad, and it doesn't sound like this one is. Not to mention that Oden already has the much deserved rep of being a brittle mess.
I'm not quite ready to deem Oden a bust, but I'm nearly there. We do have to remember that this is technically only Oden's first year and he has had some occasional monster games. But with Kevin Durant pouring in more than 25+ a game in Oklahoma, while setting the NBA on fire during All Star Weekend during the Rookie/Sophs game, and looking like a mature, focused, hungry individual in the process, I can't imagine that the Blazers aren't having second thoughts about who they drafted in 2007.
And just because I can, here's another party photo of Oden.
McMillan among those perplexed by Oden's injury [Oregonian]
Is Greg Oden partying too hard in Portland [The Big Lead]
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