What happened to the Talented NBA Star Who Was Picked Above Kevin Durant in the NBA Draft 2007?

The NBA draft 2007 was a momentous occasion for the basketball world. The first pick of the draft was Greg Oden, who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. Kevin Durant, who would later become one of the most talented and popular players in the NBA, was picked second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.

What happened to Greg Oden?

Durant and Oden were both tipped to be superstars and their competition for the first pick was a topic of hot debate at the time. Eventually, Oden was picked first by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, things didn’t turn out as planned for him. He suffered several injuries throughout his career that kept him from reaching his full potential.

Many thought he would be the next big superstar in the NBA. However, injuries derailed his career and he only played in 105 games throughout his career.

In 2016, Oden announced his retirement from basketball. It is a shame that injuries prevented him from reaching his potential because he definitely had bags of talent.

Nov 5, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) pumps his fist during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant turned out to be the right choice

In 1984, the Portland Trail Blazers opted to go with Sam Bowie with the second pick. Bowie’s basketball career, however, was cut short by injuries and prevented him from realizing his full potential. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls took a guard named Michael Jordan with the next pick, and the rest is history.

Unfortunately for the Blazers, history repeated itself when their choice during the 2007 draft proved to be the wrong one and the player they passed up on, Durant, has gone on to have a spectacular NBA career.

Well, hindsight is 20/20 and they mustn’t be too hard on themselves; they’ve only missed out on two the all-time greats of the NBA. As for Oden, it’s unfortunate that such a promising career was cut short due to injuries.

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