While rehabbing from season-ending microfracture right knee surgery, Greg Oden is probably bored out of his mind. As such, he’s talking to presidential candidates, working on his hair, and playing pick up ball in random gyms. His employers, as you might imagine, have a slight problem with the latter.
The organization got wind of a rumor that their prized big man had played at some sports club, and they were understandably upset. Head coach Nate McMillan was beside himself.
“Young guys,” McMillan said, shaking his head. “Right now, these young guys don’t know their value. That’s part of growing up and maturing. In a couple of years he will understand how stupid that was. I understand it, because I’ve done it. You are a pro, you want to walk into a building like that and feel good about yourself, you know, play with some guys. You don’t move hard, you know, just shoot some jump shots … yeah, I’ve done it. But we just have to remind him, especially in his situation, where he is coming off an injury. That … that, you just can’t do that.”
McMillan then grabbed Oden, put him on his lap and …, uh, never mind.
A broken foot cut Michael Jordan’s second season in the League short, but he began playing competitive pickup at UNC during his rehab, which infuriated the Bulls, but ultimately, they were powerless (plus this made them feel a little better.)
I’m fairly certain that none of MJ’s coaches would’ve had the testicular fortitude to put him on blast like McMillan did with Oden. Which I guess is a long-winded way of saying that Greg Oden is not Michael Jordan, and that Nate McMillan is not Stan Albeck.
