Greg Oden to Miss Rest of 2012 Season; Career In Doubt

Gren Oden vs Golden State

    Portland Trail Blazer center Greg Oden will once again be sidelined for the entire NBA season. This will be the third time in his five years since being the first overall pick, that he will miss an entire NBA season. Oden has only played a total of 82 games (one full season) in his five years. He did play in 6 playoff games in 2008-09.
    Oden missed all of his rookie season with injury, then played 61 games in 2008-09, and played only 21 2009-10. In 2010 the Blazers announced that Oden will miss the entire season with micro-fracture knee surgery.
    But today in 2012 Oden had his third knee surgery. Doctors apparently found more damage and he underwent a micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, causing him to for sure miss his third NBA season, and an eventual return to the court in high doubt.
 
    Oden was a top basketball recruit in 2006, and the most hyped recruit since LeBron James. Oden and teammate Mike Conley Jr., who is now a Memphis Grizzly, both chose to play at The Ohio State University. The Buckeyes made it to the championship game before loosing to Florida.
    Oden entered the 2007 draft and was the first overall pick by Portland. The Trail Blazers passed up Kevin Durant, who went number two to the Seattle SuperSonics, for Oden. Many at the time said this was the right choice over Durant, especially when Portland already had a then healthy Brandon Roy.
    From there on out though, it has just been injuries. When he has played, Oden has shown signs of greatness.

    In the end, it is sad to see a player, especially with so much potential go out like this. If Oden stayed healthy, with the numbers he was putting up he seemed to be a future all star. For Portland, fans will always be upset the team passed over Durant, just as they did when selecting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in 1984.
    Even though the two players Portland was going to build its team around, Oden and Roy, careers are done, they still are a contender with LaMarcus Aldridge and other role players.
    While Oden's career may be over, he will be a different kind of bust, an injury bust. While it appeared he was going to be a special player, he will instead be a first overall pick who only played in NBA 82 games.