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Was drafting Greg Oden a bust?
December 14, 2009
Why? Yeah, you guessed it, he is injured again.
The Portland Trail Blazers would have to once again do without their prized center Greg Oden this 2009 NBA basketball season.
Yes, Greg Oden suffered yet another season-ending injury after he broke his left kneecap against the Houston Rockets a few days ago. The No.1 overall draft pick in 2007, Oden is out once again and now have some eery similarities with Sam Bowie, the often-injured big man the Blazers selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.
Oden underwent surgery on his left patella and the Portland Trail Blazers confirmed what they feared all along that he was done for the season. Oden, drafted ahead of Kevin Durant, has been plagued by injures in the three seasons he had in the NBA.
He already missed his rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. Last season, he sat out six games after injuring his right foot in the season opener against the Lakers, before missing 14 games after the All-Star break with a bone chip in his left knee. He finished the season averaging 8.9 points and 7 rebounds.
This season, Oden lost weight and was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a starter. Along with improved numbers in all the major statistical categories, Oden had a renewed confidence that was seldom evident in his delayed rookie season, when he admitted the pressure of being a top draft pick got to him.
Then this happened. The Blazers sure have not historically had the best of luck with their high-profile big men.
Bowie was considered one of the biggest busts in draft history, fairly or unfairly. The Blazers took the 7-1 center with the No.2 overall pick instead of Jordan. While Bowie played in 76 games his rookie season, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds, he appeared in just 63 games over the next four seasons because of injuries. He missed the entire 1987-88 season. In all, he had five operations on his legs.
Then there was Bill Walton, the No.1 overall draft pick in 1974 who, like Oden, was hailed as a franchise player. But his first two seasons were beset by injury, with a broken nose, leg, foot and wrist.
This injury will also bring up the good possibility that Oden becomes a restricted free agent in the summer of 2011, since the Blazers will likely be reluctant to give him a big contract extension next summer.
Maybe he can join another bust playing in Detroit, Kwame Brown.
Which team will win the 2010 NBA Finals? SPORTSBETTING.com has the early odds.
Orlando Magic 7-1
Boston Celtics 5-1
Denver Nuggets 12-1
Want more odds? Visit SPORTSBETTING.com for more basketball betting odds. Want to watch the NBA live? Get NBA tickets online now.
Greg Oden Portland Trail Blazers
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