The 2007 NBA draft will be remembered for a long time because it was the year Greg Oden was selected ahead of former MVP and four-time scoring champion, Kevin Durant.
Recently, the top overall pick that year in Oden spoke about how the “bust” label will never be removed from him as he never got to play a full season and live up to his potential. But Durant came to his defense and voiced his opinion on what he thinks a bust really is and why Oden shouldn't be labeled as one.
“Nonsense. That's nonsense. In order for you to be a bust, you have to actually play and show people that you progressed as a player. He didn't get a chance to…he got injured, and that was unfortunate. But when he did play, he was a force. Protecting the paint.”
“He didn't want to get hurt. That was the last thing he wanted to do was to get hurt. That wasn't even in the cards, and he got injured and that was unfortunate. But when he did play, he was a force. Protecting the paint. They were so good with him and LaMarcus down low, with Brandon Roy [and] Andre Miller at the time. They had a nice team. So he was a big part of that.
“He's not a bust. He just didn't play a long time because of injuries, and that's just what it is.”
To be fair, Oden was indeed the top prospect after his lone season at Ohio State where he averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. That's why it's understandable why the Portland Trail Blazers could not resist not having him in their fold that year, hence, taking him first overall in the draft.
The 7-foot center missed the entire 2007-2008 campaign as he had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The following year, he finally made his debut in the NBA but suffered another season-ending injury after 61 games. He was waived by the Blazers in 2010.
Oden was successful in making a return to the league when he was signed by the Miami Heat for the 2013-2014 season, but did not make much of an impact and only appearing in 23 games where he averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. That turned out to be his final year in the NBA.
Durant, on the other hand, emerged as one of the best players in the league and has been named an All-Star seven times in his career. He has won two gold medals for Team USA. Now, he is with the Golden State Warriors trying to chase his first NBA championship.
One has to wonder what could have been for Oden if he was able to remain healthy and how dominating he would've become given his strong inside game and defensive acumen. But as it stands, Durant has decided to stick up for him and try to influence what people think of Oden.
But for others, including Oden himself, he is the biggest bust in NBA history.
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