Breaking Down The Numbers of One of NBA’s Biggest Prodigies

It’s exhausting to overstate how excessive the hopes basketball group had for Greg Oden as a prospect. An ideal steadiness on offense and protection, the Portland Path Blazers star was an ideal mix of grace and energy throughout his pre-NBA profession. A lot in order that he turned the lead picture for 2K Sports activities’ “Faculty Hoops 2K8.” Together with his proficient highschool and faculty basketball profession, his choice as first choose within the 2007 NBA draft got here as no shock. ESPN’s Jay Bilas had stated of the ex-Ohio State Buckeyes star, “Kevin Durant goes to be an All-Star, however getting a dominant heart is troublesome to do within the NBA. Greg Oden goes to be that…”

The very fact Kevin Durant received picked at quantity 2 displays how promising Oden was as a prodigy. So what occurred?

Greg Oden’s stats and profession earlier than the NBA

Although he shared the highlight with Durant throughout his highschool basketball days, Oden was only a bit extra spectacular. Taking part in for Lawrence North Wildcats, he claimed three state titles in 4 years. In the course of the course of, Oden additionally earned 3x Parade All-American honors, 2x Gatorade State Participant of the Yr, and Naismith Prep Participant of the Yr.

Aside from this, after main Lawrence North to a 103-7 document and three consecutive Class 4A state championships, the Wildcats star earned the title of Mr. Basketball in 2006. These accolades are sufficient of a mirrored image of his basketball proficiency at an early age. However his 1,873 factors, 1,058 rebounds, and 341 blocked photographs additional act as a testomony to it.

As for his faculty basketball profession, Greg Oden selected Ohio State Buckeyes to be his vacation spot. Taking part in only one season (2006-07) for the workforce, he averaged 15.7 factors, 9.6 rebounds, and three.3 blocks per recreation. And never solely did he assist the Buckeyes declare the 2007 Large Ten event, but in addition led the workforce to the NCAA event’s championship recreation.

Though he did not win the NCAA championship for his workforce, he gathered a number of different accolades to his title. These embody NABC Defensive Participant of the Yr, Pete Newell Large Man Award, and Large Ten Freshman of the Yr. After taking part in a single season of school basketball, G.O. declared himself for the NBA draft. And as said above, he received chosen as the number one choose by the Blazers. The 7 ft participant got here shouldering the expectations of turning into the following generational famous person, however future had different plans for him.

Accidents ruined a promising profession

The previous Buckeyes star went by means of a season-ending microfracture surgical procedure on his knee in September 2007. Consequently, he needed to miss his whole first season itself, solely returning within the 2008-09 season. Oden missed a number of video games in his comeback season as nicely, additionally failing to copy the pre-NBA-like success.

In his 61 video games within the 2009 season, the previous Mr. Basketball managed to common 8.9 factors and seven.0 rebounds. However his knee concern didn’t appear to let go of him, as he sustained one other knee harm in 2009. And one other season-ending surgical procedure for a fractured patella left him with simply 23 video games within the season. Greg underwent one other microfracture operation on his left knee in 2010, subsequently lacking 3 seasons in a row.

Waived by the Blazers due to his injury-plagued run with the franchise, Oden made one other comeback with a one-year take care of the Miami Warmth. Nonetheless, he performed simply 23 video games with the workforce, averaging 2.9 factors per recreation. Thus, in 2014, got here an finish to one of many largest NBA prodigies.

The 7 ft participant performed one season with the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation’s Jiangsu Dragons as nicely. He averaged 13.0 factors, 12.6 rebounds, and a couple of.0 blocks per recreation earlier than ultimately hanging up his basketball footwear. However his love for the sport nonetheless saved him within the loop with a pupil supervisor job on the Ohio State College. After his commencement in 2019, Greg Oden’s most up-to-date stint has been his work at Butler College because the director of basketball operations since April 2022.

Keep tuned for extra such updates. And to observe what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say in regards to the notorious Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and extra, watch this video.