After taking a knee to the midsection at Golden State in only the second game of the year, an injury so devastating that it eventually required surgery, Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla is working hard this off-season to put his injury-plagued and disappointing 2006-07 season behind him.

"I had a rough year last year, but I’m ready to bounce back," said Przybilla, who was a guest on Trail Blazers Courtside on Thursday night. "Things are looking good."

After sitting out close to half the 2006-07 season to injury, Przybilla returned home to Milwaukee this off-season and hired a personal trainer to help him prepare for the upcoming season with a focus on improving his leg strength.

Przybilla figures to play a prominent role in Portland’s 2007-08 plans, both as the defensive presence that he’s always been, but also as a mentor to rookie center Greg Oden.

"I’m just as excited as everyone else," said Przybilla about the upcoming NBA season and playing alongside Oden. "I want to come in and just be a leader for this team. We seem to be younger and younger, but the young talent we have is great talent."

To listen to the entire Courtside podcast interview with Przybilla CLICK HERE