GM: Oden said “I’m sorry”

Indystar :In one of his first conversations after Thursday’s surgery, Greg Oden was apologizing.

He said, ‘I’m sorry,’ 15 to 20 times,” Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “He felt the weight of the world, the weight of the organization. That was challenging for me as a general manager to see a kid say he’s sorry for something he can’t control.”

The procedure on Oden’s right knee is expected to cause the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft to miss this season, the Trail Blazers said. They estimate recovery time for the 2005 Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball at six to 12 months.

Oden’s younger brother, Anthony, said Greg was at his Lawrence North football game on Friday. Anthony said Greg showed him the swollen knee, thinking it was just a bruise.

“He’s going to be hurt,” Anthony said. “It will really hurt him a lot. He was looking forward to playing against the top competition in the world. It hurts me just hearing about it now.”

Anthony said he spoke to his brother Wednesday, and Greg thought he would be out for perhaps two months.

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