The Portland Trailblazers' center missed his rookie season due to microfracture surgery on his knee. Last night he broke his kneecap and is out for the year. His career has never really gotten off the ground and he certainly hasn't lived up to his #1 selection.
Yeah, Penny,
You can't help your team on the injury list-reminds me of Sam Bowie back in the 80's, who had more breaks than a spastic egg handler with Parkinson's----AND who was picked ahead of Michael Jordan-
I'm a Kentucky guy and Sam was never the same when he missed those two years in college with the leg problems. Before he got hurt, he was accurate with his jumper from about 22 feet on in, but after the leg problems his shot was never the same.
He's a great guy and lives in the Lexington area.
that no ones heard of.
Anyone who follows basketball had heard of Greg Oden. He was a stiff at Ohio State and he's a stiff in the NBA.
Ouch, guys---cold. Oden, I believe, took Ohio State as a freshman to the NCAA title game (losing) and was a dominant force, turning pro immediately-certainly he's been a bust as a professional due to his injuries, but has performed quite well when he played--
Oden was not a dominant force in college. He was a big body down low with no offensive skills.
He averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 boards a game as a freshman center in the Big Ten. That ain't nothing to sneeze at!!!
Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana
Look at Andrew Bynum. Never played college. In fact, I think he really only played 1 year of high school ball.
Oden was having a pretty respectable year, all things considered, and was, as Coach McMillan has said, the most consistant player on the Blazers this year. Not that he was the best...Brandon Roy obviously is, and could drop 40 on you any given night, and La Marcus Aldridge could come close as well...but almost every game have gave a double double in limited minutes.
The injury last night could have happened to anyone. And can we name how many #1 picks who didn't come close to achieving on that level? In comparison, Oden was doing pretty well this year...and hopefully will again.