When he was drafted #1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, Greg Oden appeared destined for greatness. But he soon developed injuries.
Oden’s injury problems derailed his career and he only played in 105 games. He’s now retired and is trying to move on with his life.
Is Greg still alive?
Table of Contents
Greg Oden, an 7-foot, young basketball player, was expected to become the next big NBA star. His college career was bright and he was drafted ahead of Kevin Durant in 2007.
He was a dominant force on the Ohio State team and made it clear that he was going to be a superstar. But injuries would end his NBA career, and he missed 4 seasons.
After being selected in 2007 as the first overall pick, Oden started his professional career at Portland Trail Blazers. He had high expectations and was a surefire draft pick, but his knee issues derailed him early.
Oden lived in Portland, Miami and was not able to assist the teams with their championship wins. His knees were always a concern, and he had to undergo microfracture surgery several times.
Injuries
Oden was the Portland Trail Blazers “flamed-out” draft pick. His career in the NBA was marred by numerous knee injuries which required microfracture surgery.
Oden missed four seasons, and only played in 82 games with the Trail Blazers. He averaged 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.
In June 2007, Oden was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers over Kevin Durant.
His collegiate career was also impressive, earning Defensive Player of the Year and leading Ohio State to a national championship game in 2007.
However, Oden’s injury problems began early on and continued throughout his career. Oden was injured at the wrist in college and had to have a tonsillectomy.
He also sustained a number of other injuries which caused him to be absent from basketball for a significant amount of time.
Oden was selected at the top in the 2007 draft. He seemed destined to greatness but his bright future soon faded when he suffered from multiple knee injuries. He was eventually released from the Trail Blazers in 2012.
Trades
Oden was an elite prospect who had the potential to be a NBA star. Oden was an elite prospect and was leading the way for Ohio State’s all-American status.
He was awarded the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Players of the Year two times, as well as the Naismith Prep Player Award.
Oden, who had a strong freshman year at OSU was selected first by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was expected to become one of the NBA’s best centers.
Oden was unfortunately hampered by injuries which limited his career to just 105 games over the course of his four-year NBA tenure.
He hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2009/10 season because of knee injuries. This is likely why the Portland Trail Blazers are looking to trade him.
Retirement
Generally speaking, retirement means leaving your job or the workforce and living off of savings and investments. It’s a time when you can focus on doing other things, such as travel or exploring new hobbies.
The government defines retirement as the age when you can claim full benefits, though some people choose to continue working part-time or shift their jobs to focus on more enjoyable pursuits.
Others see it as a chance to look back on their lives and make a decision about the direction they wish to go.
After a disappointing career in the NBA, Oden has remained involved in basketball and continues to coach. He works with his alma mater, Ohio State, and coaches student managers under Thad Matta’s staff.
After a promising start to his career in the NBA, injuries derailed Greg’s career.
Greg missed two more seasons, and only participated in a few games. He once was a promising big boy and hopes to return to the court one day.
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