Prior to Saturday night's game between the Trail Blazers and Warriors at Oracle Arena, center Festus Ezeli, who has yet to play this season after signing as a free agent with Portland this offseason, discussed the current situation with his left knee after numerous reports that he was considering season-ending surgery. The following are Ezeli's comments to the media (answers are verbatim, questions are paraphrased)...
Is there any update on regarding what the treatment will be for your left knee?Festus Ezeli: No, no decision has been made yet. I’ll let you guys know when anything is being scheduled, but right now I’m just being offered a bunch of options and just trying to figure out the best thing for my long term health and for the organization as well. The team is working with me diligently, we’re consulting different doctors and trying to figure out what the best option is. Can you expand on what those options are?Festus Ezeli: I can’t fully give you all the details yet. When the time comes I’ll release a statement and I’ll tell you what it is. Right now, just kind wrap our minds around it for a second.Do you think this is the kind of thing you’ll decide on soon?Festus Ezeli: I’ve had lingering issues for a while and I want to address them now because I’m at a crossroads at this point where my long term health is at stake. I love this team, I love what I’m doing here, I want to continue what I’m doing. I want to give them my 100 percent, I want to be able to get out on the court and be able to affect the game. When I can do that, I will be out there on the court. Right now I can’t, so I’m just going to keep working my best way and try to figure out the best way to get on the court. Is there pain?Festus Ezeli: There is pain, yes. Pain when you walk? When you play?Festus Ezeli: Like I said, I can’t get you guys all the details. I’m sorry. When it’s time, I will make everything come to light.Are you at all optimistic about it?Festus Ezeli: I’m very optimistic. At the end of the day, I’m going to work my way to get back no matter what the rehab protocol entails. I just, I’ve done it a couple times now to where I can’t take shortcuts anymore. I’ve tried to take shortcuts in the past to try to get back on the court as soon as I could but at this point now, I have to address this issue that’s kind of getting worse, especially now that I can correct it instead of waiting until later. What are you doing right now from a physical standpoint?Festus Ezeli: I’m still strengthening my legs, still going through some of the rehab protocols. I lift every day, I’m still working out, staying in shape basically. I can’t not workout, to be honest, so I have to do something, figure out a way to stay in shape no matter what it is. That’s what I’m doing right now. This has got to be frustrating.Festus Ezeli: I’m kind of past the point of frustration because at first it was — I’m not going to lie, it definitely was. I’m at the point where I’m just trying to find a solution. The sooner I can, the sooner I can get on the court and help my team win games. I just can’t wait to get on the court, that’s my biggest thing. I miss basketball, I haven’t played basketball in a while, so that’s my biggest thing right now.You mentioned shortcuts. Do you feel, particularly last year, that you came back to fast?Festus Ezeli: Well, I did come back fast last year and that hurt me a little bit. But that’s a decision that you don’t think twice about making those decisions. We were in the Finals and we had a historic season, so for me to be able to contribute to my team getting to the Finals and possibly winning the championship, I’ll make that decision every time because you never know when you’re going to get back to the Finals. But that’s a decision that I’m paying for right now, so we’re going to correct it and we’ll be better for it. I will be better for it.