As his own career went down, Greg Oden would watch Kevin Durant's rise to superstardom with tears in his eyes
CLOSE Ready to graduate college in May with a degree in sport industry, Greg Oden talks about his struggle to be healthy after his basketball career ended. Dana Hunsinger Benbow, [email protected]
Oden, then 28, would stare at the television screen, watching clips of the player drafted No. 2 behind him, Kevin Durant, now a league superstar. The tears would flow.Oden, who was plagued with injuries throughout his seven years in the league before knee ailments ended his NBA career, still heard the words echo: "Greg Oden is the biggest bust in the NBA."During those dark, hollow days he believed there was no way to survive other than to make all the failure and regret disappear.
Right now, Oden said, he is in an amazing place in life, far from the desolate throes of alcoholism. He and his wife, Sabrina, have a two-year-old daughter, Londyn. "It's simple as this. How can I tell her go to school and get an education if I did not get one?" he said. "I want to be that example." He had just led his Lawrence North High School team to three consecutive state championships. He had been named IndyStar Mr. Basketball and had been showered with national accolades. Like: Greg Oden is the next Bill Russell.
At the end of the season, Matta declared that Oden "was going to be one of the greatest to ever play in the NBA." But without basketball that summer night and after too much to drink, Oden lashed out at an ex-girlfriend. He had to sit out his first season because of micro-fracture surgery on his right knee. A foot injury delayed the start of what became his rookie season in 2008-09, but he played 61 games for Portland. Glimpses of his potential came in a five-game stretch that January, when he averaged 16.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
Still, the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association wanted Oden. On Aug. 26, 2015, Oden signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract. That December, he recorded a season-high 22 points and 14 rebounds.
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