Bill Russell's ego wouldn't allow Greg Oden be compared to him, but he did give the Ohio State freshman high marks.

"I think he has all the attributes to be an outstanding player -- at any level," Russell said. "He's grown so fast, it may take a year or two before the rest catches up.

"I'd say, with a few exceptions, most players start offensively and [they] catch up defensively, but they never can catch up with the offense," Russell said. "The last player to do that effectively was Michael Jordan."