USA - Oden's injury jinx continues

PORTLAND (NBA) - Team USA prospect Greg Oden has yet another injury concern as he enters his first season in the NBA.

The No. 1 overall pick by Portland in last June's draft, Oden will undergo exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday after experiencing pain in his right knee.

A timetable for his return will be set following the procedure.

Oden, who is one of the most hyped players to enter the NBA in years, has had trouble staying on the court this summer.

He had his tonsils removed in July and needed nearly three weeks to recover.

After surgery on his tonsils, the 7-foot center missed the rest of the Trail Blazers' summer league schedule and also missed Team USA's training camp in late July - which kept him out of August's FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

It had been a sub-par summer debut for Oden, who collected just six points and two rebounds while getting disqualified with a league-maximum 10 fouls in his first game.

He was slightly better in his second contest, collecting 13 points, five rebounds and four blocks with nine fouls.

The 19-year-old Oden also was not completely healthy in his lone college season, battling through a wrist injury while leading Ohio State to the national championship game.

The injuries prevented Oden from taking part in Team USA's successful FIBA Americas Championship campaign this summer.

Team USA won gold in Las Vegas last month by beating Argentina 118-81 in the final.

FIBA