Blazers' center Greg Oden has proclaimed himself ready to begin his "rookie" season in the NBA, according to Portland Tribune.

Oden, the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, missed the entire 2007-08 season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery last September.

"I?m ready," says Oden. "But the good thing about last year, it got me to calm down. I?m not crazy."

"I?m excited, but I?m not like, 'It?s coming up! It?s coming up!' I?m like, 'It?s coming. Let?s get it on.' "