Summer ‘08 Players To Watch: Greg Oden
photo by Mannion*Reprinted from Dime #42, on sale now*
After championships are won and lost, the NBA, college and high school basketball lays its foundation in the summer months. With the draft, the AAU circuit and summer camps giving rise to new stars replacing the old — plus the world’s most-watched basketball tournament getting underway in Beijing — we give you this summer’s Players 2 Watch, this week focusing on the NBA Draft…
It’s always been something with Greg Oden, something that made it impossible to predict how good he’d really be at the game’s highest level. When he was destroying the comp at Lawrence North (Ind.) High School, it was his physical superiority that got in the way; no one knew how the 7-footer’s game would translate when he had to play against players with chest hair under their jerseys. In his lone season at Ohio State, it was the wrist; injured in the summer before his college debut, it was a constant asterisk hanging over the freshman’s 15.7-point, 9.6-rebound, 3.3-block, Final Four-stamped campaign. After the Trail Blazers made him the No. 1 pick and he struggled in his first summer league run, it was illness; rumors of everything from mononucleosis to sinus infections to simple allergies were offered to explain Oden’s initial struggles as a pro. And then, before he could log a regular season minute, it was the knee; microfracture surgery that would end Oden’s rookie year before it began.
So here we are; another summer of anticipation in front of Oden and those of us who are impatiently waiting to see if this kid is really the truth. Reports out of Portland say he’s on schedule with his rehab, and he got a talking-to from the team during the season after he was caught playing pickup ball at a local gym before getting medical clearance. Oden’s knee will be put to the test in the summer leagues and in training camp before he steps under the lights and the games start to count, and that period will be vital in evaluating his progress.
Eventually, the excuses will be gone and we’ll see if the super-hyped mystery kid was worth it.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Ian says:
he knew about the knee injury, no way nobody does not realize somethin in their knee is messed up. he duped the trailblazers and they had it coming. scam artist.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Data says:
I’m just waiting for the Oden scandal when hi original birth certificate is produces and proves he’s really 46 which would explain the knee problems and all those other injuries. Dude looks like he’s Bill Russel’s slightly younger brother.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Truth says:
@Ian
Well the Oden situation isn’t that bad. Dude is only makin 5 mil a season, not let’s compare that to the ignorant a*s wizards who has first hand knowledge of Arenas’ wooden peg of a knee now, and they are willingly giving away 20 mil. I would have drafted Oden also. Even with the minor annoying injuries. Let’s just see how he does for the next 2 to 3 years, if he’s a bust, just don’t resign him , he’s only costing them 5 mil a season?
July 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
K Dizzle says:
“Eventually, the excuses will be gone and we’ll see if the super-hyped mystery kid was worth it.”
Hopefully, he gets healthy soon cuz two years with two major injuries ain’t really a good look
@ Truth – They always gonna resign him if Kwame’s still cashin NBA cheques
July 1st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Luigi says:
okay G-Oden is a beast. he’ll be good but im afriad that hell become too full of himself n be a bust like Benoit Benjamin or Chris Washburn. or Kwame Brown.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
@Ian and Truth. IF he really knew something was wrong w/ the knee, so what? Would you really come out and announce it and cost yourself millions of dollar$? These teams have medical personnel for this exact reason. Either the ENTIRE NBA missed it and completely dropped the ball (highly unlikely, but possible) or it happened afterwards. Either way, it’s the Blazers’ doctors that are to blame if that’s the case, not Oden. It’s not like they didn’t get a chance to poke and prod at everything to make sure he was ready to play.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Dave says:
Can’t wait to see him play in the NBA. He’s going to be incredible. Blazers looking very dangerous out West.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Ian says:
hey celts fan sup
that ian that posted the first wasnt me (remember the parker over rondo arguments we had)
July 1st, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Desrat says:
Oden is not going to get high o himself. He has all the reason in the world to think his poop smells like roses and the guy is still real down to earth. Did you see his interview with Bill Walton? Kid was genuine and kind. I also saw him one the court once when BRoy came over to tell him that Shaq said to say he would see him next year. GOden was star struck, and nervous. It is the Blazers job to instill the confidence he needs (Mr. Seattle is a hell of a coach and will make sure GO is ready). I can not wait to see him, I think he is going to be like Bill Russell, dedicated to his team concept and a hard working beast in the paint.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
oliverxubo says:
he is a humor guy,many friends like to chat with him online on tall dating site ___Tallmingle.com___,He often told us some funny jokes. Seems he is famous on that site,especially some hot models talk with him positively.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
doc says:
hes a beast
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Trailblazerfan says:
You all wish you had Greg but we have him.KP Pritch Slaped all the other GMs.Blazers will rule for at least ten years. GO BLAZERS !!!!