Summer workouts are no vacation for Greg Oden

Ex-Blazer Brian Grant bangs with Portland center

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jul 2, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (4 Reader comments)

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“With footwork, it’s mostly balance. Big guys get in trouble when they get their feet too close together. It’s about being able to take hits and finish and make shots. Having Brian’s 260-pound body on Greg has really helped with that.”

The goal is not for the 21-year-old Oden, who weighed about 280 at the end of last season, to lose weight.

“He’s in good shape,” Bayno says. “It’s really about not adding a whole lot of weight. He is taking a nutrition class this summer at Ohio State, which will be good for him. To have a big guy like Greg at his age focusing on nutrition is important for longevity in the league.”

Canales is now in Spain, working with Blazer guard Rudy Fernandez. Medina returned to Portland, where he worked with Oden last Saturday during a weekend visit. Bayno says he and Grant will continue working with Oden in preparation for the center’s participation in a four-day Team USA mini-camp at Las Vegas in late July.

“We’re working Monday through Thursday weekly, and Greg is also scrimmaging at night (at Ohio State),” Bayno says. “He also lifts weights. Bobby got with the Ohio State strength coach and gave him a program. Greg’s weight looks good, and his body looks good. He is so respectful, such a good kid, does anything we ask – he has been a joy to work with.”

Like a father

The personal workout sessions have been a release for Bayno, who left the Blazers after last season to become head coach at Loyola Marymount. In late November, after only three games, Bayno took a leave of absence, which turned into a resignation.

In February, Bayno returned to coach Nate McMillan’s staff in Portland.

“For me, the NBA is the best life in terms of coaching,” Bayno says. “You have so much more freedom. In the college situation, you’re pretty much a father. It’s like adopting 15 kids seven days a week. The time consumption is off the charts. You’re never really off.”

At Loyola, says Bayno, his health became the issue, both physically and mentally.

“It was the stress of the job,” he says. “I was exhausted. Sleep deprivation wore my body out. I ended up getting sick. It was just too much. I feel bad for my players at Loyola. I’m disappointed my health got in the way of me completing my job, but I had to do what’s best for me.”

After a few months, Bayno had recovered enough to return to a position with the Blazers.

“I had to take the Loyola job to figure out what I wanted to do,” he says. “I think my ego got involved a little bit in wanting to be a head coach. But I love my life as an NBA assistant, developing players and helping Nate. It’s a perfect world. I’ve never been happier.”

Bayno’s pet project until October training camp is Oden.

“I think I’m pretty much going to be with him the whole summer,” he says. “This will a big year for Greg. It’s going to be the year he steps out of his shadow and really produces for us.”

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