The Miami Heat gave Greg Oden another shot in the NBA when they signed him earlier in August to a two-year contract. While the 7-footer is making progress, he admitted he's uncertain whether his body could endure an NBA season.
Oden spent the entire 2012-13 season rehabbing from his third microfracture surgery. There's a long way before Oden can return to the court, and there's the possibility it doesn't even happen this season.
He recently played three straight games of full-court, 4-on-4 basketball last week, according to Sports Illustrated. While there weren't any setbacks, Oden sounded uncertain whether his body could perform at an elite-level or last in the NBA.
"I got an old body," Oden told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Saturday. "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.
"... After three years of being out, I'm just going to go and do what I can, and my body is going to do what it can. If somehow it says no, then it says no. But, for me, I'm not even worried about that. I'm just going to go play and not even think about that.
"If it doesn't, I have to deal with it when it happens. Right now, I just want to go play."
Despite the uncertainty, there was cause for optimism.
"I'm able to walk, and I'm running, jumping, I'm doing everything," Oden said. "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."
One of the reasons Oden chose the Heat, according to ESPN, was that he wouldn't be needed as much early in the season, which would give him more time to continue rehabbing and getting in to shape.
The 25-year-old center, who hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009, also described Miami's plan to get him back onto the court.
"I know it's going to be a long process," he said. "... (At first) it'll be a lot of agility, jumping, and some court work, and a lot more cardio, just trying to get ready and trying to maintain ... they want to get to know my body."
He isn't going to be the star of a team like he was once predicted to be when Portland took him No. 1 overall in 2007. After three microfracture knee surgeries, his goals have changed.
As for what would make Oden happy?
"Just getting back on the court, when I step on the court, if I play five minutes, and I step off the court and I'm healthy, and I'm able to play the next game, that's what I'm worried about," he said. "For me, that would be the biggest smile on my face, being able to play games."
