Titus: Former Blazers C Greg Oden Has "Lost Almost 30 Pounds"

Mark TitusofGrantland.compredictsthat former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden has lost a significant amount of weight since he wasreleased in Marchfollowing multiple knee surgeries.

I realize that I'm running the risk of jinxing him by predicting this, but at this point, Greg Oden's entire professional career has been one big jinx, so this would really just be a drop of water in the ocean. With that said, I'm predicting that during 2013, Greg Oden will record a double-double in an NBA game. Chances are you think this is a ridiculous idea because you either (a) think predicting that a guy who was the no. 1 pick in the NBA draft five years ago will get a double-double isn't exactly ballsy, or (b) think there's no chance in hell of this happening.

如果你在前者,这似乎是一个good time to remind you that when the 2013-14 season rolls around and Oden is (hopefully) set to make yet another comeback, it will have been almost four full years since he last played in the league. The odds of him making it through a month, let alone an entire season, without getting hurt are so astronomically against him that many people think he should just retire now and not even bother trying. Which brings me to those of you in the second group. I know that Oden is trying to make an unprecedented comeback, and suggesting he can produce at a high level even for one game is borderline insane. But I'm sticking by my prediction because I've seen firsthand how motivated he is to salvage his career. And by that, I mean that he's lost almost 30 pounds during his time off and is moving better than I've ever seen him move since he left Ohio State. Hopefully shedding weight will relieve some stress on his fragile body, and for at least one night in 2013 - probably against the Wizards - he'll tap into the fountain of youth and show why he was once considered the best big-man prospect since Lew Alcindor.

Earlier this month, Blazers forward Nicolas Batum said Odenstill wants to play in the NBA。Odensaid recentlythat he would become a gym teacher if he's not able to return to the NBA and he'sbeen in Ohio State's gym at least once。他也被发现在各种场所有限公司lumbus, Ohio, during OSU's football season and his agent has said on multiple occasions that Oden would pursue a return to the court for the 2013-14 season.

Back in May, Tituswrote a lengthy pieceon Oden that discussed his time in Portland. Titus, who has known Oden since high school, discussed that interview in multipleradio interviewsandpodcasts。Titus alsowrote a bookthat discussed his friendship with Oden.

Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in February. In May, heunderwent Orthokine treatmenton both of his knees. He hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009.

Oden, 24, holds career averages of 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 82 appearances.

Hat tip: Jakob

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter