The disappointing finish just six weeks into the 2009-2010 campaign came as a result of a fall in the first quarter, with Oden taken off the court on a stretcher and set to miss yet another season of NBA drama.
Oden, the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, missed the 2007-2008 season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. He missed 20 games last season, six with a right foot injury and 14 with a bone chip in his left knee.
Oden was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season as a starter and appeard set to finally ealize the promise seen in him as a youth.
"He did all the things he needed to do this summer to get himself ready for this year. He came back and showed the potential we felt he had," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said.
Blazers owner and Mirosoft mogul Paul Allen, who is battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma, was saddened to see Oden's early exit.
"That's the kind of thing you certainly hope doesn't happen. Greg was just really starting to come into his own," Allen said. "Hopefully they'll be able to repair the kneecap and he'll be in good shape."
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