Brandon Roy’s Pursuit of Kobe Bryant as West’s Best Two-Guard Derailed Due to Knee Injuries

Things were already bad enough for the Portland Trail Blazers when it was just their big men — Greg Oden, Marcus Camby and, earlier this season, Joel Przybilla — battling crippling knee injuries.

But the problem has gotten worse as the season has worn on. Now their franchise player is at risk, and the Blazers’ long-term outlook is in serious jeopardy.

Brandon Roy has been out of commission since Dec. 15 — the Blazers decided last month that their superstar shooting guard needed arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees. It’s now unclear when Roy will return this season, if at all.

Roy went on 95.5 The Game, a local radio station in Portland, on Wednesday to discuss his situation, and the interview went into revealing — and damning — detail.

“I don’t think medically I will ever be able to get back to 100 percent,” Roy said, sending shockwaves around the NBA.

The 26-year-old reached the NBA All-Star Game three times in his first four seasons and he was just entering the conversation of “best two-guard alive” with Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Now this. Things just keep getting worse for the Blazers.

Roy also said he could return to a high level, and that he’s grateful for the fans’ support in Portland. But that revelation, that Roy will never quite be the athlete he once was, is tough to stomach.

Luckily for the Blazers, they’re already used to fighting through adversity. They did it from wire to wire last year, and they still won 50 games to make the West playoffs. They might do the same again this season. With LaMarcus Aldridge becoming a full-blown star and Wesley Matthews continuing to grow, the Blazers are alive and kicking.

They’ll take on the Celtics on Thursday night, at 10:30 p.m. Eastern. Roy won’t be around, but the Blazers will be out to prove they can notch a big win without him.