In 2007, the Portland Trail Blazers made a decision that would forever change the course of their franchise. With the first overall pick in the NBA draft, they selected Greg Oden, a 7-foot center from Ohio State University. It was a risky pick, to be sure. Oden was coming off of surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee, and there were questions about his long-term health.
But at the time, Oden was considered the best player in the draft, and the Greg Oden Didn’t Play Long Blazers were hopeful that he would be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite work out that way. Oden played in just 82 games over four injury-plagued seasons with the Blazers before his career came to an abrupt end. He was released by the team in 2012 and never played in the NBA again.
But while his time on the court may have been short-lived, Greg Oden left a lasting impression on those who knew him best. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the life and career of Greg Oden, from his humble beginnings to his unfortunate end.
NBA career of Greg Oden
Greg Oden was the number one overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played in the NBA for five seasons, averaging 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Oden’s career was plagued by injuries, including multiple knee surgeries, and he last played in the NBA during the 2012-13 season. In September 2014, Oden announced his retirement from basketball.
The injuries that ended his NBA career
Greg Oden’s NBA career was cut short by injuries, but he walked away from the game with no regrets.
Oden was the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, but injuries limited him to just two Greg Oden Didn’t Play Long seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his brief NBA career, but his injuries ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.
Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2009 and missed the entire 2010-11 season. He attempted a comeback with the Miami Heat in 2013 but only played in 23 games before being sidelined again by injury.
Oden officially announced his retirement from the NBA in March 2014, at the age of 26. While his career was ultimately cut short by injuries, Oden says he has no regrets and is proud of what he accomplished in his brief time in the league.
His post-NBA life
After his NBA career ended, Greg Oden stayed in the public eye for a while. He made Greg Oden Didn’t Play Long appearances on TV and did some modeling. He also started working with children, helping them to stay away from drugs and alcohol. In 2016, he opened up a restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The restaurant is called “Greg’s Place” and specializes in seafood. Oden has said that he wants to help others and that he is grateful for what he has learned from his experiences.
How he’s doing now
Greg Oden is now working as a college basketball analyst for ESPN. He also runs his own youth foundation and recently published a book about his life.
Oden seems to be doing well despite his early retirement from the NBA. He has found other ways to stay involved in the game of basketball and is using his platform to give back to the community.
Conclusion
Though Greg Oden’s career was short, he made a lasting impact on the game of basketball. A big man with a soft touch, Oden was one of the most unique players to ever step on the court. Though his injuries derailed his career, he never gave up on his love for the game. In retirement, Oden remains involved in basketball, serving as an assistant coach at Ohio State University. He is proof that even if your playing days are over, you can still stay connected to the sport you love.