Fansided

Greg Oden: “I’ve got an old body”

By Stu White

Mar 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; NBA free agent Greg Oden walks along the court after the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers 103-92 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; NBA free agent Greg Oden walks along the court after the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers 103-92 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; NBA free agent Greg Oden walks along the court after the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers 103-92 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; NBA free agent Greg Oden walks along the court after the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers 103-92 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

As exciting as it is to have Greg Oden back in the NBA, the newest member of the Miami Heat preached cautious optimism during a press conference on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Oden said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to basketball, but at the same time acknowledges the limitations his body places on him:

"I got an old body. I’m going to put it like that. I understand. My body is not going to be when I was 18, able to run all day and jump over people. I can’t do that now. It’s just not going to happen. My knees, the wear and tear of the surgeries, I understand that. But I’m going to play as hard as I can, and I’m going to try to jump over people, and I’m going to try to run all day. If my body lets me, I’ll do it. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)"

Oden continued:

"I’m able to walk, and I’m running, jumping, I’m doing everything. It’s going to be maintenance for the rest of my life. I tell people all the time, ‘I got to warm up to warm up and then play.’ I understand that now. This year was the big one for me, just being able to understand my body."

We at FanSided hope that Oden has a successful return to basketball. As a Portland fan, I’m definitely rooting for him (even though watching our former No. 1 pick play with Lebron James in Miami kind of tortures my soul a bit).

[Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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