Greg Oden: "I'm one of the biggest busts in NBA history"

[KingSpeed]

http://grantland.com/features/greg-oden-miami-heat-nba-playoffs-how-to-be-a-benchwarmer/

Very funny article about what it's like to be a benchwarmer.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

And water is wet.

He straight up stole $850k from the Heat this year.

 

[santeesioux]

Who is Greg Oden?

 

[ripcityboy]

I thought he would go back to OSU and become a dentist or something. He's got the money. Don't feel sorry for him in the slightest.

 

[ehizzy3]

So he's done for the playoffs I assume?

 

[KingSpeed]

So he's done for the playoffs I assume?

Not necessarily. He's active.

 

[jlprk]

Only a nice guy would say that. I like him.

 

[dviss1]

It sucks seeing who we should have picked get MVP this season...

 

[robin nopez]

Nobody's given a shit about Greg Odom since he had his stupid-ass breakdown when the Lakers tried to trade his ass. Stop talking about that scrub.

 

[H.C.]

idk Kwame brown was a pretty big bust too. he could never impact a game

at least when oden was healthy he could impact a game.

 

[robin nopez]

I can't classify Oden as a bust. The potential was there, but buried by chronic injuries.
Busts are the guys that were mistakenly considered to have potential when really they did not

 

[jlprk]

Rookie

Couple of years later

Robert Swift, Seattle’s #1 2004 pick, taken 12th straight out of high school. Career ruined by injury, became alcoholic. Interesting new article. Shows you Oden critics that Oden was an angel in comparison.

http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2023691379_robertswift18xml.html

As I read that article I'm thinking, "Oden critics are under the illusion that THIS is how Oden lived."

 

[dviss1]

As I read that article I'm thinking, "Oden critics are under the illusion that THIS is how Oden lived."

Fuck Greg Oden. He told us exactly how he lived:

“If you know anything about guys in the Air Force,” Greg explained, “it’s that they drink a ton. My cousin got wrapped up in the NBA lifestyle and threw parties at my house all the time. So I got wrapped up in it too. When I played well, I’d drink to celebrate. And when I played poorly, I’d drink to forget. That second year in Portland I pretty much became an alcoholic.”

 

[jlprk]

That one quote is your entire evidence that Oden is a horrible monster. There were no complaints from neighbors, much less police. To show how you guys overstate this, I posted an article to show a truly bad case, not one invented in your imagination, based on one quote.

 

[KingSpeed]

idk Kwame brown was a pretty big bust too. he could never impact a game

at least when oden was healthy he could impact a game.

Kwame had some decent years with the Lakers. I saw him have a 20/10 night once.

 

[crandc]

Oden did not steal $850K from the Heat. They knew he had not played in years, they knew of his injuries. $850K by NBA standards is a modest investment. They no doubt figured if they got anything at all it would be worth it. That being said, I don't really give a damn.

Although I find it ironic. When KP said Durant would win MVP and Oden NBA championships - he may well have been right. Just not in the way he/we hoped.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Touching on another comment . . . it so easy to say if I didn't play basketball I would be a dentist. (Like it is no big deal if he can't make a living playing basketball)

Well Oden, it looks like soon you won't be able to make a living playing basketball . . . but guessing he doesn't have the passion or work ethic to become a dentist. That might sound harsh but at the time he made it sound like it so easy for him to do another white collar professional job. I bet there were dentist across the land who got a chuckle from Oden's statement.

 

[PapaG]

That one quote is your entire evidence that Oden is a horrible monster. There were no complaints from neighbors, much less police. To show how you guys overstate this, I posted an article to show a truly bad case, not one invented in your imagination, based on one quote.

He had parties all the time, and yes, at times the cops showed up because of noise and underage drinking. It didn't make the papers because Tualatin police just wanted to make sure things were safe, and not to crack skulls.

 

[PapaG]

Touching on another comment . . . it so easy to say if I didn't play basketball I would be a dentist. (Like it is no big deal if he can't make a living playing basketball)

Well Oden, it looks like soon you won't be able to make a living playing basketball . . . but guessing he doesn't have the passion or work ethic to become a dentist. That might sound harsh but at the time he made it sound like it so easy for him to do another white collar professional job. I bet there were dentist across the land who got a chuckle from Oden's statement.

Can you imagine those gigantic mitts trying to fit into an average mouth? I could see him as a horse dentist, but the general public would be terrified of having those banana hands in their mouth.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Can you imagine those gigantic mitts trying to fit into an average mouth? I could see him as a horse dentist, but the general public would be terrified of having those banana hands in their mouth.

I will let everyone put their own Oden selfie joke here.

 

[jlprk]

He had parties all the time, and yes, at times the cops showed up because of noise and underage drinking. It didn't make the papers because Tualatin police just wanted to make sure things were safe, and not to crack skulls.

I knew you work at the Fusion Center. I knew it, I just knew it.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I remember reading a couple reports that a lot of teams where hot after the Blazers #1 pick before Oden got drafted and one of those teams just so happened to be the Spurs dangling Tim Duncan. Just thought I'd bring that up.

 

[PapaG]

I knew you work at the Fusion Center. I knew it, I just knew it.

I literally have no idea of what you're posting. Do you?

 

[dviss1]

I remember reading a couple reports that a lot of teams where hot after the Blazers #1 pick before Oden got drafted and one of those teams just so happened to be the Spurs dangling Tim Duncan. Just thought I'd bring that up.

Link or I call bullshit...

 

[jlprk]

I literally have no idea of what you're posting. Do you?

Link or I call bullshit...

Both of those pieces of information have been on this message board at least several times. Both of you should read the board more carefully.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I remember reading a couple reports that a lot of teams where hot after the Blazers #1 pick before Oden got drafted and one of those teams just so happened to be the Spurs dangling Tim Duncan. Just thought I'd bring that up.

Link or I call bullshit...

I remember hearing that too. I don't know how legit it was but that was one of the rumors going around.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Link or I call bullshit...

Here you go. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_hughes/03/12/oden/index.html?mobile=no

 

[BBert]

For McMillan, this is not the first time he has dealt with this kind of situation. When he was coaching in Seattle, the SuperSonics drafted Robert Swift out of high school with the 12th overall pick in 2004. McMillan helped develop Swift for two years, and briefly thought about not going to Portland because he wanted to continue coaching Swift, whom he thought had substantial promise.

But in 2006, when McMillan left for the Blazers, Swift suffered a major knee injury in a preseason game. In rehab Swift bulked up on weights, which led to a second major knee injury. Swift is now out of the league after the franchise (which relocated to Oklahoma City) realized he would never develop into what it had hoped. His injuries were too severe.

Holy shit. Talk about a lesson not learned. SMH

 

[PapaG]

Holy shit. Talk about a lesson not learned. SMH

Swift also bulked up on booze and potato chips...

 

[BillBrasky]

Who cares? I would wish the best for him except that he turned down other offers to sign with Miami in the hopes of "winning" a championship.