Greg Oden injured (again) out for 2-4 weeks

In his first professional game for the Portland Trailblazers, the high-touted 2007 NBA Draftee, Greg Oden, was injured within the first 13 minutes of the first quarter, ESPN reported.

After finally recovering from a season ending micro fracture knee surgery before the start of the 2007-2008 NBA season, Oden was prepared to get back into the game of basketball. His hopes were cut short quickly, when he fell on LA Lakers' Derek Fisher's foot, Tuesday night. MRI results showed the Oden had a mid-lateral foot sprain.

Oden was supposed to be the saving grace of the Trailblazers' franchise, and the centerpiece of a young and up-and-coming franchise. Gifted with a 7'0" body and a nice scoring touch, Oden was predicted to be the next great NBA center, within the ranks of Wilt Chamberlin and Bill Russell.

There was much controversy on who the Blazers would choose with the #1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Greg Oden or the Texas phenom, Kevin Durant? Oden was an obvious choice, because the possibility for a franchise center rarely comes about.

At Ohio State, Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds a game, and led the team with blocks, while leading the Buckeyes to a National Championship berth. While Durant put on a show for the Texas Longhorns, he was considered a guard/forward stud that is very common to find in NBA Drafts, while Oden was a towering, and extremely safe pick.

Is it really the safest pick now? Durant went on to lead the former-Seattle Sonics with over 20 points a game and practically sweeping the Rookie of the Year votes. Oden has played a total of 1 quarter, and hasn't scored a point (0-4 field goals and 0-2 free throws) since leaving Ohio State in May of 2007.

It is really hard to say whether injuries will continue to falter Oden's career, or if he will be in top shape soon down the road, and dominate like many experts believed he will. But for Blazer fans right now, eerie feelings of the 1984 draft. The Trailblazers opted for 7'1" Sam Bowie over the sensational kid from North Carolina: Michael Jordan.