Introduction
Greg Oden is a former professional basketball player best known for his time in the NBA. Born on January 22, 1988, in Buffalo, New York, Oden was a highly-touted basketball prospect, dominating the high school and college circuits with his size and skills.
Early Life and High School Career
Oden grew up in Indiana, where he became a star at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. His talent and potential were clear from a young age. Standing 7 feet tall, Oden led his high school team to three straight state championships and was named the National High School Player of the Year in 2006.
College Career at Ohio State
After high school, Greg Oden played one season of college basketball at Ohio State University during the 2006–2007 season. He had an impressive year, averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. His standout performance help lead Ohio State to the national championship game in 2007, although they were defeat by the University of Florida.
NBA Career and Injuries
Greg Oden was the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. Expectations were incredibly high, but unfortunately, Oden’s professional career was hamper by severe and recurring injuries. He missed his entire rookie season due to microfracture surgery on his right knee. Over the next few seasons, Oden continued to struggle with knee injuries, playing in just 82 games over five seasons with the Trail Blazers.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance when healthy, Oden’s career never lived up to its immense potential because of these chronic injuries. He was release by Portland in 2012, and after an attempt to return to the NBA with the Miami Heat during the 2013-2014 season, Oden retire from professional basketball.
Post-NBA Life
Since his retirement, Oden has pursued various personal and professional interests, including coaching and business ventures. He has also openly discussed his struggles with injuries and mental health, using his platform to raise awareness for athletes dealing with similar issues.
Legacy
Greg Oden remains one of the biggest “what ifs” in NBA history. Despite his injury-short career, he will always be remember as one of the most dominant big men in college basketball and a player who had all the physical tools to be an NBA star, if not for his unfortunate injuries.
