This says nothing about his attitude, his desire to play/compete, or any other "intangibles" that are clearly subjective. Nobody really knows what goes on in his head, even though we all seem to have an opinion. I started thinking about other big men, and the injuries they've had . . . 1) Carlos Boozer: Missed 80 games over his first two seasons in Utah (after signing a big FA contract) Has missed 44 games this season. Where would Utah be if he had been healthy all year? 2) Marcus Camby: Last year played 79 games, by far the healthiest he's ever been. Going into this year he's averaged about 20 missed games/season with injuries 3) Shaq: Played 81 games in each of first two seasons in the league. Here's some of his GP stats from other years . . . 54, 51, 60, 67 (3 times), 59, 40, 61 4) Okafor: Missed 80 games over his first 3 seasons. 5) Yao: Missed 86 games in the last 3 seasons (prior to this year) 6) Bynum: Missed 47 games last year and 15 (and counting) this year 7) Illguaskus: Played only 29 games in his 2nd/3rd season in the league 8) Amare: Missed 27 games in 2nd season, played in only 3 games in '05-'06, and will miss 29 games this year 9) J. O'Neal: Missed 122 games in last 3 seasons (prior to this year) 10) Bogut: Missed 16 games in 2nd season & 25 so far this year 11) Al Jeff: Missed 23 games in 2nd season, 13 games in 3rd, & will miss 32 games this year 12) McDyess: Missed 72 games in '01-2, all of '02-3, and 40 games in '03-4 13) Our Own Joel P: Missed 50 games in '02-3, 67 in '03-4, 26 in '05-6, and 39 in '06-7 (Also, he did not play in 49 games as a rookie but I'm not sure how many of those were DNP-CD) The only reason the Blazers aquired him for nothing was b/c he was so injury prone early in his career 14) Elton Brand: Missed 74 games last year and 30 so far this year 15) Kenyon Martin: Another guy who's averaged missing 20+ games/year since he's been in the league There are many more examples. The point is that Big men get hurt. It's rare that you seen an Iron Man like Dwight Howard who played in all 82 games in his first 4 seasons. Even the Great Patrick Ewing missed 51 games over his first two seasons. Is GO Injury Prone? I think the bigger question might be, what big man is NOT an injury risk?
If this knee injury wasn't one that happened in a freak accident, then I can see people beginning to call him injury prone. But I mean he banged knees with Maggette on accident. That shit happens in the NBA, it's not like he just stepped wrong and chipped his knee it was a freak accident...He's just been unlucky so far.
Big men are all at higher injury risk because their bodies are not optimally proportioned and their feet and knees are under greater stress than most others'. It's possible that Oden will have his career altered by injury (like Bowie's was), but it's definitely way to early to assume such a thing. His most recent injury wasn't a "big man" injury of his knee or foot being stressed and giving way...it was simply bad luck of getting hit straight on by another knee. His first injury this year may have been a typical big man injury (not certain, not being a doctor), but it didn't sideline him long and he played for quite a while after that before suffering the aforementioned freak injury.
Exactly. I remember reading Phil Jackson's book several years ago in which he detailed the struggles Shaq had with staying healthy. He basically was talking about the physics/mechanics of a man Shaq's size having to sprint, stop on a dime, cut, slide, etc + having to take a pounding from other bigs. Greg's not quite the 325 Lbs that Shaq is (or some say more than 325) but he's still a huge man. There just aren't many Big Men that average more than 60-70 games/year.
An excellent post. I'm not liking all the hysteria about Oden and will reserve judgment until next season.
Good post and I understand/agree with what you are saying but in regards to Shaq...He made up injuries so he could chill during the regular season and be ready for the playoffs. Every year during the Lakers heyday with him he would have some minor injury...maybe a couple of them over the course of a few months. Everybody knew Shaq was holding back in the regular season
I agree about Oden's injuries... His 2 injuries this year have been caused by other people (i'm trying to say this in a non-excuse making way) from Fisher/Bynum in game 1 and then w/ Maggette in the GS game. The kid will be fine. He needs to know we are behind him.
