It’s tough to find anyone who will disagree that this week’s Greg Oden news — you know, that he’s missing another season for another knee surgery — is anything less than a total bummer. The guy’s a 22-year-old with an “Infinite Jest”-sized medical chart that’s robbed him of, essentially, the first four seasons of his assumed-to-be successful NBA career. When I heard, it basically ruined my Wednesday night.
Confounding things is the fact that Oden’s continued absences have come during a time when the guy drafted immediately after him — Kevin Durant, duh — has enjoyed an astronomical rise to the top of the NBA. While Oden’s knees were going bad, Durant was leading the NBA in scoring, finishing second in MVP voting and winning gold with Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. It’s only natural to compare the two, and, well, Oden doesn’t really stack up, which is why some people are more than willing to hang the bust label upon his broad shoulders.
However, a fellow No. 1 overall pick doesn’t think that’s the case. From FanHouse:
[Andrew Bogut] says it’s time for Portland’s Greg Oden to stop hearing talk that he’s an NBA bust. That’s despite news that Oden will miss the rest of this season due to yet another knee injury.
“I think he’s three or four years from that now,” Bogut, a Milwaukee center, said Thursday in an interview with FanHouse about Oden going No. 1 in 2007. “So I think people should probably forget about that. The way I look at it, at that time he was the best player in the draft. People might argue (Oklahoma City forward Kevin) Durant now in hindsight. But back then it was a tossup between those two, and he was probably the best player at that time. The (Portland) GMs didn’t make a mistake. He just happened to be injured, and hasn’t really had that good run that other guys have.”
As a center who was drafted first overall and missed a big chunk of a season with an injury, Bogut’s pretty qualified to speak on the subject. The fact that he was quickly labeled a bust before developing in to one of the NBA’s best big men doesn’t hurt either. Plus, he’s right.
Oden’s only 22 and microfracture surgery is so much better now than in the Penny Hardaway athleticism-robbing days. There’s still a lot of time for Oden to turn things around. Now, maybe that never happens or maybe he’s not nearly as game-changing defensively due to being tentative, never properly recovering or whatever, but as Bogut says it’s going to be another few years before we can really judge this.
I don’t know if that’s encouraging, but it’s better than the alternative.
If the media didnt hype this kid as the next Bill Russell, i’d lay off the bust talk. but the facts are the facts and this kid is a bust. he wont ever play as many games as Bowie. not to mention Odens depression issues. maybe China or Turkey will sign him in a couple years. just think, Kwame Brown and the Candy Man will have better careers than this kid
I couldn’t agree with Bogut more. For Oden’s well-being and sanity, everyone just needs to sorta forget where he was drafted. The 2007 draft is not relevant anymore. Even if Oden had stayed healthy, selecting him over Durant might not have looked great, but the disastrous luck he’s had with injuries- and another long period of rehab coming up- should retire that conversation altogether.
Oden’s gotta try not to put an unreasonable amount of pressure on himself to live to #1 overall expectations. Just being a productive NBA big for a few years would be great right now.
http://is.gd/hmKRG
Yes. Exactly. Thanks, Trey and Andrew Bogut.
I’ve always had a problem with calling guys busts when they’re hampered by injuries. Kwame Brown and Jamarcus Russell are busts. I wouldn’t call Oden a bust just like I wouldn’t call Yao a bust. It’s not the Blazers fault. Anyone with that pick would have taken Oden.
portland drafted an 18 year old with OLD knees
but hey, those old knees matched his old LOOKS
By that Yao thing I just meant because obviously he’s been really limited by injuries….I realize it hasn’t been to the same degree.
He ain’t no bust. I did, however, think Durant was a much much much better talent than Oden, although I also considered Oden a good fit for Portland.
Finally, an article that has an equal and fair approach.. Tired of reading destructive criticisms and the likes of it.
To Gred Oden, you still have ways to go and a lot of time to prove them wrong about their negative perception about you. Get well, soon..
Just another reason to love the Bucks.
#1 pick is such a curse, so many 1st round picks flake out or get injured into obscurity, but if its the #1 pick the scrutiny lasts for years.
But hey, by seasons end Oden will have amassed $20 Million is salary… good for him!
Nice Infinite Jest reference.
He’ll be fine in about 2 years and the Celtics will sign him. Gotta keep their centers looking old after Shaq retires, know what I mean?