LAS VEGAS - Is Greg Oden finally ready to start for the Blazers or isn't he?

That's the question after a comment by Oden himself has some wondering whether he's really healthy.

Greg Oden did a series of interviews Wednesday in Los Angeles and repeatedly said he is ready to play.

But in an interview with ABC Radio the same day, he also made a comment about his health that is, understandably, raising a few eyebrows.

"I would say I'm in the 80s percent-wise healthy," he said. "I won't be back to 100 percent - not this year, not next year. It's going to take some time and I'm ready to play."

Won't be 100 percent? Even next year?

According to the Trail Blazers, Greg Oden's surgically repaired knee couldn't be better.

"What we do know, and the facts state, is that we feel like his rehab has gone fantastic," said Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. "He's moved in a great direction. The knee looks great. There's no swelling. He's got full range of motion. His leg is now completely as strong as his other leg."

One thing everyone agrees on is that Oden plans to be on the court on opening night. The confusion is over just how healthy he will be.

Oden's agent, Mike Conley Sr., said the 80 percent comment isn't about Oden's right knee, which he said is just fine. Rather, it's about Oden being back at the top of his game.

""I interpret it that Greg says he's 80 percent back, as far as being ready to be the basketball player that everybody thinks he should be, and he won't be at the top of his game," Conley said. "He figures it's going to take him about a year back playing basketball before he's actually at the top of his game."

"He's a 20-year-old kid," said Pritchard. "He's nervous about the upcoming season. I can totally get what he's saying but we believe he's going to be ready for the season and we're ramping this thing up. We're taking this from where it is now and doing a little bit more next month and then starting in September, we think he can be ready for 5 on 5 and that's really the true test."

"When you're out of the game like he's been out of the game, you can be in shape, you can get ready to go," Conley said. "But there's still an adjustment to make in the speed of the game."

There is still one hurdle for Oden - how his knee holds up once he starts playing full court basketball in September.