There was a time when Greg Oden had his sights set on being one of the best centers in NBA history. Now, he just wants to be around the game.
Following a very brief NBA career riddled by injuries that forced him to retire at just 28 years old, Oden is now trying to get into coaching, and he is getting things started by helping the Boston Celtics with pre-draft workouts.
“I’m done playing. I helped out at Ohio State for the past three, four years. So I just kinda hit the bug on me,” said Oden, according to John Karalis of Mass Live. “I enjoy working with the players. I enjoy that side of it.”
Oden, who played his collegiate basketball at Ohio State, was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the first overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft.
Upon entering the league, Oden was compared by some to David Robinson, but he never got a chance to show it, as knee injuries knocked him out after his second season.
Oden was then out of the NBA for three years before getting another shot with the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 campaign, but he played in just 23 games and was then never seen in the league again.
But, fortunately, he is still finding a way to enjoy himself:
“Just to help out with the pre-draft stuff and see what happens from it,” Oden said. “I’ll take that opportunity from it. It’s the freakin’ Celtics.”
Oden just wants to be involved somehow:
“Honestly, whatever side I can get into,” he said. “But I do like being on the court with the players.”
He probably imagined pursuing this path at 41 years old rather than 31, but at least Oden is remaining engaged.
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