The Trail Blazers’ injured first round draft pick, Greg Oden wants fans to know he’s going to work hard to recover from knee surgery and plans to come back stronger than ever before.

The candid and humbly honest Oden made a video blog that’s quickly circulating online. He started out by apologizing for not communicating sooner and urged fans to keep believing in him.

Oden underwent knee surgery last week, which revealed cartilage damage that needed serious recovery time. A short time later, the Blazers announced that Oden would not play during the 2008 season and Portlanders’ dreams for a turnaround season were quickly deflated.

 Talk of the town: Chat about Oden's video blog

Background on Oden's knee surgery

But Oden said fans should not give up hope and thanked them for their support so far.

“My knee is healing. It’s pretty ugly, pretty fat. It’s coming along. It has three incisions, but I’m working really hard to come back,” he said. “It’s going to be a long rehab time but when I come back, I hope to be better than ever and I’m going to work really hard.”

Oden gave viewers a little tour, too. First he panned the camera down for a glimpse of his swollen knee.

Then, he scanned his small studio.

“I’ve got a bed in my living room. That’s where I sleep. Instead of having a living room table, I got a bed. That’s how I roll,” he said.

He also thanked a friend who jumps into action every time he “rings a little bell” for help and of course, his mom.

“She’s been here cooking food, making me bigger, so I’m just lovin’ it.”