Miami Heat center Greg Oden participated in an NBA practice for the first time in four years Tuesday.
The team started their training camp with a normal, defensive drill workout in a warehouse-like conference center at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Oden took part in only half of the practice, the Heat is easing him in because of his past chronic knee problems.
“It felt good just being out there,” Oden said. “First time in a while, I’m happy I got it completed. They had to pull me off the floor. But I’ve got to take steps.”
When his teammates started scrimmaging at the end of practice, Oden was sitting on courtside with icepacks on his knees.
The Heat’s medical staff still hasn’t cleared Oden for contact play. The organization isn’t in a hurry to put Oden on the court, there isn’t a timetable yet on when he will play in team scrimmages.
“It’s step by step, practice by practice, minute by minute,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It was a big bonus to have him out there. We’ll meet with the trainers and see how he reacts and go from there.”
Oden will play for the Miami Heat this upcoming season, ending an NBA hiatus that has been ongoing since Dec. 5, 2009, when he suffered several knee injuries.
