Craig Pearson
The Tribune-Star
INDIANAPOLIS —
Greg Oden brought another budding NBA standout along Friday for the fourth annual “Travis Smith Memorial Golf Classic Hosted by Greg Oden,” and Indiana Pacers’ 6-foot-10 forward Josh McRoberts has at least one other thing in common with Oden.
“I’m not a golfer. I don’t claim to be,” McRoberts said.
The two have distinctly different games on the basketball court, and McRoberts, 23, and Oden, 22, are still looking to prove themselves as major players in the league.
Oden has flashed the dominance that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, and McRoberts has also shown his potential as a multi-skilled, athletic big man.
McRoberts was greeted by retired Terre Haute North coach Jim Jones at the Terre Haute Country Club. It took only a few minutes for Jones to offer some basketball related advice to the former Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference foe. McRoberts played at Carmel before a two-year career at Duke propelled him into the NBA.
“He’s come up for about five Pacers practices,” McRoberts said. “He’s a great coach, he helped Larry [Bird] out. I played a lot of games against him, great guy.”
McRoberts and Oden greeted many participants in Friday’s golf scramble and gripped the clubs themselves. With proceeds going to the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club, both young NBA players are happy to take part.
“I was really impressed with the Smith family last year, but I’m glad to come back,” McRoberts said. “I’m just here to support them and support Greg.”
Travis Smith was Oden’s best friend, as the 7-footer continued to visit the Smith family after he moved to Indianapolis as an eighth grader. Jimmy, Tami and their daughter Courtney are like family for Oden, he said.
“I grew up at the Boys Club, Jimmy being one of my biggest mentors and Travis being my best friend,” Oden said. “So many things involved with this that everybody around me means so much to me. I’m going to be here no matter what. If nothing else, in support of Travis and his memory.”
Oden relaxed indoors at the Country Club before getting out on the course, joking with old friends and signing autographs for others.
Oden and McRoberts have both had busy arduous summers, Oden rehabbing from a fractured patella on his left knee, and McRoberts looking to improve his game.
“I approach it real easy. I’m going to focus on myself. Everything I’m doing this summer is to prepare me to be an All-Star,” Oden said. “If I prepare myself for whatever happens, I’ll be able to handle it ... and that involves everything.”
Oden is in a winning situation in Portland with emerging superstar Brandon Roy in the backcourt. Frontcourt mate LaMarcus Aldridge complements Oden’s defense-oriented game well.
“He’s going to be great. He was playing well last year before he went down,” McRoberts said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s part of the game. He’s been unlucky, but he’s going to be a great player for a long time. He’ll get through this road block.”
Glad to be back in Indiana, Oden enjoys the Pacific Northwest as well.
“Portland’s a beautiful city. They have really nice people. It’s real outdoorsy. I’m not an outdoorsy guy,” he said. “I just like to sit outside and look at the city.”
Portland features one of the biggest cycling population’s in the nation, which has impressed Oden.
“That’s not me. There’s tons of people riding bikes to work. I can’t do that, have to take a shower,” said Oden, who hopes he and his teammates’ hard work pays off.
“Everybody knows the Lakers are still the No. 1 contender, but we’re working really hard to put the pieces in place for us to be up there.”
Big contributions from McRoberts could go a long way in returning the Pacers to contender status in the East. McRoberts was impressed by all three of the Pacers’ draft picks during the summer league.
He averaged 14 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 3.7 assists in three summer league games. His focus in the offseason was on his jump shot. He hit 29.4 percent in the three summer league games despite a 2 for 12 night against the New Jersey Nets. He also blocked three shots.
“It was a good experience. It helped me work on some things I’ve been working on this summer. I got better from it,” McRoberts said. “They wanted me to get as many 3s as I could, get as many shots as I could. I shot it pretty well the rest of the time. The end of September, training camp starts. We’re excited about the guys we got in the draft this year. Anything could happen at this point [with the roster], you never know. I’m just excited to get going.”
