The 2007 NBA Draft 1st Pick: Where Is Greg Oden Now and What Happened?

I still remember the buzz surrounding Greg Oden back in 2007. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've never seen such unanimous consensus about a number one pick's potential. Standing at 7 feet tall with incredible athleticism, Oden was supposed to be the next great NBA center. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him over Kevin Durant, a decision that seemed reasonable at the time but would become one of the most debated choices in draft history. Looking back now, I can't help but feel a mix of what-ifs and genuine sadness about how his career unfolded.

Oden's professional journey began with what should have been a minor knee surgery that sidelined him for his entire rookie season. This was the first red flag, though many of us in the basketball community dismissed it as precautionary. When he finally debuted in 2008, he showed flashes of brilliance - his defensive presence was immediately noticeable, and he had this old-school post game that reminded me of legends from the 90s. In his first active season, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in just 21.5 minutes per game. The efficiency was there, but so were the injuries - a fractured patella ended that season prematurely. I recall thinking, "Just bad luck, he'll bounce back." Oh, how wrong we all were.

The parallels between Oden's situation and the quote from Tiongco about team chemistry resonate deeply with me. Tiongco mentioned, "We are good naman as a team. Nabuo kami almost one week na lang ng league. Biglang nagdatingan 'yung mga trades. So 'yung chemistry, wala pa." This perfectly describes what happened with Oden and the Blazers. Portland had built a promising young core with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, but Oden's constant injury setbacks prevented them from ever developing proper chemistry. They were like a team assembled through last-minute trades - talented pieces that never quite learned how to fit together. I've always believed that had Oden stayed healthy, that Blazers team could have challenged for multiple championships.

Between 2009 and 2012, Oden underwent three microfracture surgeries and multiple other procedures on his knees. The numbers are staggering - he played only 82 total games in five seasons with Portland. That's exactly one full season spread across half a decade. The Blazers eventually waived him in 2012, and I remember feeling that this wasn't just the end of his time in Portland, but potentially the end of his NBA career. What many people don't realize is that Oden attempted multiple comebacks - he played 23 games with Miami in 2014 and even spent time in China before officially retiring in 2016. His final NBA averages stand at 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, numbers that completely undersell his impact when actually on the court.

These days, Oden has found a different role in basketball. He completed his degree at Ohio State and served as a student manager for the Buckeyes basketball team. Currently, he works as a director of basketball operations for a high school in Ohio, and from what I've heard through coaching circles, he's found genuine fulfillment in mentoring young players. There's something poetic about Oden now guiding the next generation, sharing hard-earned wisdom about both basketball and life. He's been open about his struggles with depression and alcohol during his playing days, which I respect tremendously - it takes courage to be that vulnerable in the hyper-masculine world of professional sports.

When I think about Oden's legacy, it's complicated. Statistically, he appeared in just 105 NBA games total, while players drafted after him - Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Mike Conley - have had storied careers. But those who saw Oden play at his brief peak know he had Hall of Fame potential. His career reminds me that athletic success isn't just about talent and hard work - health and luck play enormous roles. The "what if" surrounding Oden will always be one of basketball's great unanswered questions. Personally, I'm just glad he seems to have found peace after everything. His story serves as both a cautionary tale about putting too much pressure on young athletes and an inspiring example of finding purpose beyond the court. In many ways, his current work with young players might have more lasting impact than anything he could have accomplished in the NBA.