There aren’t many bigger ‘what-if’ stories in the NBA than the Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to draft Greg Oden.
The No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft out of Ohio State, the former center was billed as a generational player. Even Steve Kerr, who played alongside basketball icon Michael Jordan, considered Oden “a once-in-a-decade type player.” So when the Portland Trail Blazers bypassed the opportunity to draft Kevin Durant, picking Oden instead, it didn’t seem nearly as crazy as it does now. Nonetheless, it dramatically altered the future of their franchise and that of the Seattle SuperSonics, who would eventually become the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It’s amazing to think the Blazers may have contributed to their own downfall in more ways than one.
Did The Blazers Contribute To Greg Oden’s Downfall?
Making an appearance on Out The Mud, Oden explained how his growth spurt led to the microfracture injury that caused him to miss his entire rookie season.
“I had a leg length differential my whole life. Basically, when I was in the sixth grade, my leg was falling out of my hip,” he explains.
“When I went to get an X-ray, by the time I took the bus home, my mom literally picked me up from the bus stop by our house and drove me all the way back to the hospital. They said that if I had spent another day like that, my leg was going to fall out of my hip—that’s how fast I was growing. I, to this day, still have two pins in my hip. Dealing with that, I used to always walk with a limp, and my body got used to it.
“When I got to Portland, I got orthotics that kind of fixed,” Oden reveals, “and I don’t think my body was used to that. I swear to God, the next day after getting orthotics, my (right) knee blew up. Probably a week later, I was having microfracture surgery—and that was the end of my rookie season.”
Oden would go on to make a full recovery, or so it was thought.
Short But Not Sweet
In 2008-09, Oden suited up in 61 games and played 21.5 minutes per contest. His rookie season didn’t get off to a great start, as he injured his foot in the opener. Nevertheless, he played well thereafter, even starting in 39 games prior to the All-Star Break. After missing three weeks with a chipped knee cap, he played in the final 15 games of the Blazers’ regular season and all six of their playoff games.
He ended his rookie campaign with averages of 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. In the postseason, he recorded 5.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game.
The next season is when it all started to unravel though. Oden played in only 21 games before fracturing his left patella during a game against the Houston Rockets. He was averaging 15.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per contest in the five games leading up to that fateful night.
Unfortunately, the big man underwent another microfracture surgery, though on his left knee. He never played another game for the Blazers, as his recovery was sidetracked by an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and additional microfracture surgery on his left knee. Eventually, Oden would land with another team.
However, it wasn’t until 2013, when he landed a one-year deal with the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
The Last Word On Greg Oden
Given the fact that Oden didn’t have any knee injuries throughout high school and college, it seems quite possible that the Blazers erred by attempting to correct his pre-existing malady. On the one hand, they can’t be blamed for wanting him to be in mint condition, or close to it. On the other hand, it may have been an overcorrection; one that wasn’t based on his actual performance. After all, he had already managed to become the No. 1 pick without the orthotics.
These days, most Blazers fans likely ask themselves why their favorite franchise couldn’t have just picked Durant. However, another question that they might now ask is why Portland couldn’t just leave well enough alone?
© Craig Mitchelldyer-Imagn Images
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