Can Greg Oden rewrite his NBA story?
theGRIO REPORT - The name Greg Oden has become synonymous with "bust" and sports phrases like "a career marred by injuries" or "just couldn't stay healthy." And it's true...
The name Greg Oden has become synonymous with “bust” and sports phrases like “a career marred by injuries” or “just couldn’t stay healthy.”
And it’s true.
But it doesn’t have to be true forever. Oden is reportedly gearing up for a NBA comeback with upwards of six teams interested in his services.
It’s been nearly four years since Oden played in an NBA game. He fractured his left knee cap after a collision midway through the game’s first quarter. It was a moment that made you just shake your head and say, ‘that’s a shame.’
A new beginning
But now, there’s promise. There’s hope. There are reports that Oden “moved well” and “looked lean” in workouts and could sign with a team as early as this week.
The Grio | Greg Oden suffers season-ending knee injury
Miami Heat scout and former NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway said signing Oden would ensure a three-peat for the NBA Champs. ESPN basketball insider Jeff Goodman puts it this way:
@ESPNSteinLine If he can be 75 percent of the player he once was, he would still be better than half of the current NBA centers.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 28, 2013
Goodman’s tweet not only speaks to the glaring lack of quality centers in the NBA today but to the sheer talent Oden possesses. There was a reason the 25-year-old was taken No. 1 overall back in 2007. He has the ability to not only block shots but more importantly alter opposing team’s offensive strategy.
SB Nation’s Satchel Price writes that Oden’s comeback attempt is unprecedented:
“But what he’s trying to pull off, returning after four years to play NBA ball at a high level, hasn’t really been done before. That he’s even gotten this far, positioning himself in a miniature bidding war for his potentially-useless services, is just the latest example that he’s as special as everyone said.”
Oden doesn’t have to be Brook Lopez or Dwight Howard next season. He just can’t be the Greg Oden he was in Portland. Healthy, he would be an upgrade for any of the teams interested.
For the Miami Heat, signing Oden would likely move Chris Bosh to the power forward spot and make Miami’s frontcourt all the more formidable.
Other frontrunners in the Oden sweepstakes are the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs. Oden’s decision could reportedly come down to which situation presents the least amount of pressure.
The pressures of another injury
The spotlight would be bright on Oden in Miami with televised game after televised game chronicling his success or failure. His story reminds many of the Trail Blazers’ ‘other’ infamous draft selection: Sam Bowie.
The Blazers selected Bowie No. 2 overall in 1984, ahead of some guy named Michael Jordan. Bowie’s time with the Blazers was mostly spent recovering from recurring leg injuries. When Oden was injured in a preseason game his rookie season, Bowie knew what he was going through.
“I feel terrible for Greg,” Bowie told ESPN’s Marc Stein back in 2007. “I’ve never talked to the young man but he’s always come across as very professional, very mature.”
Oden told Grantland’s Mark Titus last year he became an alcoholic during his second year in Portland – a season in which he did play 61 games in but was statistically mediocre.
That offseason, Oden stopped drinking and got into the “best shape of his life,” before that awful first-quarter collision in Houston.
Fast forward four years and Oden’s potential to live up to the 2007 hype is still being talked about – and that’s a victory for Oden. Because many draft ‘busts’ don’t get a chance to rewrite their NBA stories.
Oden may not be able to completely rewrite his – but he can at least sneak an afterword in there.Â
Follow theGrio.com’s Sports Editor Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj
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