Greg Oden entered the basketball world with immense expectations. Known for his exceptional balance between offense and defense, the Portland Trail Blazers selected him as the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, ahead of future superstar Kevin Durant. Oden's pre-NBA career was nothing short of stellar, making him the cover athlete for "College Hoops 2K8" from 2K Sports and receiving widespread acclaim as a generational talent.
During his high school years at Lawrence North, Oden led his team to three state championships in four years, earning 3x Parade All-American honors, 2x Gatorade State Player of the Year, and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award. With 1,873 points, 1,058 rebounds, and 341 blocks, he established himself as one of the top prospects in the country.
Oden continued his dominance at Ohio State, averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game in his only college season. He guided the Buckeyes to a Big Ten tournament title and an appearance in the NCAA championship game. Despite falling short in the final, Oden's efforts earned him accolades such as NABC Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Injuries and Career Challenges
However, Oden's promising career was derailed by injuries. A knee surgery before his rookie season forced him to miss the entire year, and when he finally returned in the 2008-09 season, he played only 61 games, averaging 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. Subsequent injuries, including a fractured patella and another microfracture surgery, limited him to just 23 games over the following three seasons.
The Blazers eventually waived Oden. He made a brief return with the Miami Heat in the 2013-14 season. During that season, he played in 23 games and averaged 2.9 points per game. He then spent a short time in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Jiangsu Dragons. There, he averaged 13.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. Oden then decided to retire from professional basketball.
Despite the setbacks, he remained connected to the game. He served as a student manager at Ohio State. Later, he was appointed as the Director of Basketball Operations at Butler University, a position he has held since April 2022. Although his NBA career did not unfold as he had hoped, Oden continues to be a significant figure in basketball history. People remember him for his potential and the challenges he faced.
