Is the NBA dream finally over for the former prodigy?
Let’s flash back to May 22, 2007.
The Portland Trail Blazers were set to pick in the lottery for the fifth consecutive year after a 32-50 season. After previous trips to the lottery left Portland with Sebastian Telfair and Martell Webster, the 2006 Draft netted Rip City the services of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge- the first legitimate building blocks since the team selected Zach Randolph in 2001. With things looking up, Portland struck gold during the 2007 draft lottery.
Less than a month later, the Blazers completed their ‘big three’ with the selection of Greg Oden, the center from Ohio State that was lauded as the best center prospect in a decade. Portland launched an aggressive ‘Rise With Us’ campaign built around its coveted trio that was supposed to help bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to the Northwest for the first time since 1977.
What happened?
Oden had microfracture surgery on his right knee less than three months after hearing David Stern call his name in Madison Square Garden. As a rookie, Oden would miss 21 games with various foot and knee injuries.
On November 17, 2010, the Blazers announced Oden would undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee, and on December 5, 2010 he played his last game as a Trail Blazer. (Oden had a third microfracture surgery in 2012 that pre-empted his release.)
Oden attempted a comeback to the NBA during the 2013-14 season, playing 23 games with the Miami Heat, seeing 9.2 minutes per game. He failed to catch on as a long-term member of the team.
Oden’s tale is a sad one, especially when one considers the success of No. 2 pick Kevin Durant. It is a morbid story that shows that the surest of picks can still end in disaster. There is a similar situation every few years (see the 2014 NBA Draft).
His journey, however, is not completely over. Earlier this week, Oden signed a one-year, $1.2 million dollar deal with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association. He is still only 27 years old, and is theoretically capable of still helping a team.
In China, Oden has a chance to prove he can be a dominant force once again. Playing against lesser competition is most likely his best shot to get back to the NBA- if he has the option to return. Oden averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds during his NBA career. Is this just a stop on the road back to the NBA, or a swan song for the former No. 1 pick?
You’ll have to follow the CBA to find out.
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