I still remember the summer of 2007 like it was yesterday. The NBA draft buzz was electric, and everyone in my basketball circle was convinced we were witnessing the birth of the next great big man. Greg Oden, with his commanding presence and defensive prowess, seemed destined for greatness. Fast forward to today, and that same name evokes a completely different emotion—one of what could have been. The story of the 2007 first pick NBA draft isn't just about basketball; it's about human resilience, shattered dreams, and the unpredictable nature of professional sports.
When Portland selected Oden over Kevin Durant, the decision made perfect sense at the time. We're talking about a 7-foot center who dominated college basketball at Ohio State, a defensive anchor who could change games single-handedly. I recall watching his college highlights and thinking, "This guy is built differently." The Trail Blazers needed a franchise player, and Oden appeared to be their ticket back to relevance. Little did we know how quickly things would unravel due to factors beyond anyone's control.
Oden's professional career became a medical drama almost immediately. He missed his entire rookie season after microfracture surgery on his right knee—a procedure that's become somewhat infamous in sports medicine circles. When he finally did take the court, flashes of brilliance emerged. I remember one particular game against Miami where he recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds, looking every bit the dominant force we expected. But his body simply wouldn't cooperate. Multiple knee surgeries, setbacks, and rehabilitation stints defined his time in Portland. By 2012, after playing just 82 games across five seasons, the Trail Blazers waived him. The numbers tell a heartbreaking story: 105 total NBA games compared to Kevin Durant's 1,000+ and counting.
What strikes me about Oden's journey is how it mirrors the unpredictability we see across sports. Just this week, I watched a young tennis phenom experience her own version of this rollercoaster. The 20-year-old Filipina pushed Czech world No. 16 Barbora Krejcikova to the limit in a two-hour, 10-minute match before falling, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, on Tuesday night, concluding her maiden campaign at the prestigious grass-court grand slam. That initial set victory showed her potential, much like Oden's early performances, before reality set in. These moments remind us that raw talent alone doesn't guarantee sustained success at the highest level.
After his NBA career effectively ended, Oden's life took some interesting turns. He attempted a comeback with Miami in 2013-14, but his body had clearly betrayed him for good. I've followed his post-basketball journey with genuine curiosity—he completed his degree at Ohio State, worked as a student manager for the basketball team, and has been refreshingly candid about his struggles with depression and alcohol. In recent interviews, he's spoken about finding peace away from the spotlight, currently working in financial services and coaching youth basketball. There's something profoundly human about seeing this giant of a man, once destined for superstardom, now finding fulfillment in mentoring the next generation.
The legacy of the 2007 first pick NBA draft continues to fascinate me because it represents one of sports' great cautionary tales. We often treat draft picks like sure things, forgetting the human element involved. Oden's story isn't about failure—it's about adapting when life doesn't go according to plan. While Kevin Durant has cemented his Hall of Fame legacy, Oden has carved out a different path to purpose. Both journeys, though wildly different in outcome, speak to the resilience of the human spirit. Every time I see a highly-touted prospect entering the draft today, I think of Greg Oden and remember that talent is only part of the equation. The rest depends on variables we can never fully predict or control.