August 22, 2008 – Dr. Anklesnap
The Portland Trail Blazers don’t know Greg Oden. The media doesn’t know Greg Oden. The fans don’t know Greg Oden. Heck his college team Ohio State from 2006-07 doesn’t even know Greg Oden. So who does know Greg Oden? In a basketball sense, probably nobody but Greg Oden knows Greg Oden.
The 2007 NBA Draft #1 overall pick by the Portland Trailblazers has yet to play even one game in an NBA uniform, yet the guy is larger than life. Maybe not on a scale as big as King James, but certainly in a similar fashion the media has dogged this guy since he first stepped on the basketball court as a youngster. He was bigger than everybody, better than everybody, and all watcher’s were sure he was special. But just how special? No one actually knows at this point, just how special.
In his one and only season in the NCAA, he put up some big numbers 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game in only 28 minutes. Seems impressive, right? What is impressive is he did all that playing the whole season wearing a cast on an injured right wrist, rehabbing from surgery to repair torn ligaments. As far as the Portland Trail Blazers were concerned those college numbers were significant enough to pick Oden #1 solely on what was seen as limitless potential due to his size and athletic ability, as many figured Kevin Durant would be the consensus #1 pick that year after a monstrous season of 26 points and 11 rebounds per game. Kevin Durant was chosen #2 by the Seattle Supersonics. Oden then came up gimpy requiring serious micro fracture knee surgery before ever having logged minutes for the Blazers. Flashbacks of Sam Bowie Blazers fans?
I have to admit I was a skeptic for a while when it came to Oden. I am one of those people that needs to see before I believe. After watching the video below of Greg Oden last week working out publicly for the Portland Media, i’m more now on the fence waiting to be dazzled in real live NBA games. Her certainly has a hop to his step in the workout that gives you glimpses of the potential greatness to come. Here is a quick video look-in of the workout that has me going out on a limb to predict Mr. Oden will be your 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year:
