It seems like we hear this story just as much as we hear stories about Brett Favre’s retirement (every year). In another heartbreaking beginning to a season, Portland Blazers’ center Greg Oden finds himself sitting on the bench for the rest of the season once again. The former #1 pick in 2007 out of Ohio State must undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee and is officially done this year. Sound familiar? Oden had to miss his rookie season, ’07-’08, because of microfracture surgery on his right knee. Over the 4 seasons Oden has been in the league, he has only played one season’s worth of games (82).
This isn’t just déjà vu for Oden, however, but for Portland as well. In 1984 Portland picked Sam Bowie #2 overall. #3 that year? Michael Jordan.
Bowie went on to underperform in addition to also having the injury bug. While Jordan led the Bulls to 6 championships. When Portland drafted Oden with the first overall pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Kevin Durant #2. Last year Durant became the youngest player to win the NBA scoring title at 21 years of age and 30.1 ppg. Nobody is saying that Durant is the next Michael Jordan, but the comparisons in each situation are awfully eerie.
Bowie went on to underperform in addition to also having the injury bug. While Jordan led the Bulls to 6 championships. When Portland drafted Oden with the first overall pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Kevin Durant #2. Last year Durant became the youngest player to win the NBA scoring title at 21 years of age and 30.1 ppg. Nobody is saying that Durant is the next Michael Jordan, but the comparisons in each situation are awfully eerie.
Although the Blazers have enough depth at center; Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla, and LaMarcus Aldridge; it is tough getting over the fact that your former #1 overall pick can’t stay out of the operating room.
What’s in a Bust?
Whether or not you consider Greg Oden a bust is dependent on your definition of bust. Although he played sparingly, Oden did put up very respectable numbers. Last year, before surgery on his left knee, Oden started all 21 games he played in while averaging 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. These are definitely signs of a quality center, just not what should be the stats of a #1 pick. So is he a bust? Injuries are impossible to detect, which makes it tough to call Oden a bust.
Kwyame Brown, Michael Olowokandi. Those are NBA Draft busts who were drafted first overall in their respective drafts. But these guys have gotten on the court and proven that their play does not match that of a quality NBA player. Oden, however, can’t stay on the floor long enough to give people the opportunity to determine whether or not he is indeed a bust. Oden is still young, 22 years of age, so his career is far from over, especially if he keeps his hopes and work ethic up. Rehabilitation for a knee injury is not an easy thing to go through. Considering he has gone through it before, hopefully he won’t be down in the dumps, but instead work hard to come back next season and manage to stay on the court long enough for us to give him a fair assessment.
i just cant see oden being away from the game this long and coming back and playing at the level that he was expected to out of college. you can only train and practice so much, but when you are thrown on the court with the best players in the world, its going to be hard to pick up where you left off
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