'I Hope To Be Better Than Ever' -- Oden

A week after undergoing season-ending knee surgery, Greg Oden is recovering -- mentally and physically -- at his Tualatin home.

Oden's agent, Mike Conley Sr., said Friday that Oden has not experienced any complications from the microfracture surgery he had on his right knee last week and is recuperating comfortably.

"His spirits are a little down, just like anyone's would be," Conley said. "But he seems to be doing fine."

Thursday night, Oden made his first public comments since undergoing surgery, posting a one-minute, 20-second first-person video clip on his yardbarker.com Web log. In the clip, Oden thanked fans for their support, vowed to return and offered a brief glimpse of his surgically repaired knee.

"It's gonna be a long rehab time, but when I come back, I hope to be better than ever," Oden said in the video. "And I'm going to work real hard. Thank you for still supporting me."

The Blazers also posted a short video clip featuring Oden on their team Web site in which the 7-footer and No. 1 NBA draft pick offered more thanks and reiterated his motivation to rehabilitate his knee and return healthy next season.

The Blazers are in the process of setting up a news conference with Oden, possibly for late next week. The team opens training camp on Oct. 2.

source : oregonlive.com