Former NBA No. 1 Pick Greg Oden Dominates in His Chinese Basketball Association Debut
Greg Oden’s story will go down as one of the saddest in NBA history. It’s a tale of an injury-plagued big man who couldn’t stay on the court long enough to live up to his status as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 Draft. Often sidelined by knee injuries and a myriad of other ailments, the former Portland Trail Blazer and Miami Heat big man appeared in just 105 NBA games from 2007 until 2014.
Moving on from the NBA, Oden signed with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association in August. He made his regular-season debut for the team on Sunday.
RELATED: Greg Oden: What Defines His Game
Against the Bayi Rockets, Oden posted an eye-popping stat line—19 points, 24 rebounds and four blocks. He dominated inside, though it must be said that the Rockets defenders were nowhere near his height and weight. But Oden moved well, showing off some solid footwork on a couple moves below the rim and even stepping out to hit a mid-range jumper.
Regardless of where he’s playing or the level of competition, it’s nice to see Oden back playing basketball. He is only 27 years old, and if he continues to play well in China, we wouldn’t be surprised if an NBA team gave him another shot.
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Former NBA No. 1 Pick Greg Oden Dominates in His Chinese Basketball Association Debut
Greg Oden’s story will go down as one of the saddest in NBA history. It’s a tale of an injury-plagued big man who couldn’t stay on the court long enough to live up to his status as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 Draft. Often sidelined by knee injuries and a myriad of other ailments, the former Portland Trail Blazer and Miami Heat big man appeared in just 105 NBA games from 2007 until 2014.
Moving on from the NBA, Oden signed with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association in August. He made his regular-season debut for the team on Sunday.
RELATED: Greg Oden: What Defines His Game
[youtube video=”iOHqTOcG658″ /]Against the Bayi Rockets, Oden posted an eye-popping stat line—19 points, 24 rebounds and four blocks. He dominated inside, though it must be said that the Rockets defenders were nowhere near his height and weight. But Oden moved well, showing off some solid footwork on a couple moves below the rim and even stepping out to hit a mid-range jumper.
Regardless of where he’s playing or the level of competition, it’s nice to see Oden back playing basketball. He is only 27 years old, and if he continues to play well in China, we wouldn’t be surprised if an NBA team gave him another shot.