OT Greg Oden Update

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by ABM, Aug 5, 2019.

  1. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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    FWIW...

    https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...ations-for-friend-mike-conley-with-utah-jazz/

    Former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden discusses first season in BIG3, expectations for friend Mike Conley with Utah Jazz

    MILWAUKEE -- Everyone knows this story. In 2007, the consensus top two prospects in the NBA Draft were Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Blessed, or perhaps cursed with the No. 1 overall pick, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Oden. Durant went to the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

    From there, the two players' careers diverged. Durant has reached great heights as one of the best players of his generation, winning an MVP, two championships and two Finals MVPs, while Oden, plagued by injuries, played just 105 games in his entire career.

    The story many may not know, is that injuries were only the beginning of the problems for Oden. In 2014, just a few months after his NBA career came to an end, he was arrested for punching his ex-girlfriend. "She did not deserve any of that," he told ESPN in 2017. "I'm very sorry for it. I have to show a better example for everybody... It still hurts me that I put that lady and her family through that. That was not somebody I ever thought I could be."

    Though it in no way excuses his behavior, that incident came during a period of alcoholism and depression for Oden, as he struggled to deal with the injuries that were destroying his career. "It wasn't like I was clinically depressed, but I was so down. I think I was probably depressed," he told ESPN in the same interview.

    His problems with alcohol continued through 2016, when he was, in his estimation, drinking "every day" after his return from a short stint playing in China. He then decided to return to Ohio State to finish his degree and was offered an opportunity to help with the basketball team by then-coach Thad Motta. "That really helped me out to give me some direction, to give me some meaning," Oden told the Indianapolis Star earlier this year.

    He slowly began to rebuild his life, and now, some semblance of a career. In May, he was selected No. 7 overall by the Aliens in the third-annual BIG3 Draft, and has suited up each weekend as part of a professional basketball team for the first time in over three years.

    In Milwaukee on Sunday, Oden put together his best performance of the season, finishing with a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. He doesn't move like he once did, of course, but in short bursts you can still see the power, athleticism and instincts that made him one of the most dominant college players of all-time.

    After the game, CBS Sports caught up with Oden to discuss, among other things, his first season playing in BIG3 and what he expects for his good friend Mike Conleyafter his trade to the Utah Jazz. (Continued....)
     
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  2. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    I will forever hold the Blazers organization in contempt for giving Greg microfracture surgery at age 19 before ever playing an NBA game.
     
  3. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Wishing my man the best!!!!!!!
     
  4. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Does he know you dimed him to the team? :devilwink:
     
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  5. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Shhhhh.....nope, it never came up. PR thanked me big time for letting them know though. Thanks!
     
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  6. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Can you imagine if that happened today? There would have been so many IG posts and videos of him playing it would have been on the front of reddit within 30 minutes.
     
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  7. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Shit, it would have been EVERYWHERE!
     
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  8. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    and when I saw this thread I immediately thought..."Wolves fans back with dick pics...." Big 3 is a great place for him to have some fun...he was just a kid when he was here..I have issues with several bad choices he made but he's older now. Seems weird hearing Oden connected with Big 3......you'd think they'd get at least to double digits
     
  9. dviss1

    dviss1 Emcee Referee

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    He'll probably quit. It's what he's good at.
     
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  10. beast crnjo

    beast crnjo Well-Known Member

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    I actually named my dog Oden.
     
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  11. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Harsh
     
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  12. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

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    He's a heavy drinker?
     
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  13. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Mine Rudy FURnandez
     
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  14. Sedatedfork

    Sedatedfork Rip City Rhapsody

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    My dog's named Clyde. It suits him well.
     
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  15. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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    I wanted to name one of our dogs "Bottom" after one of my all-time favorite Trail Blazers, but my wife said, uhmm, no.
     
  16. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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    I always wanted twins, so I could name them, “Humper and Thumper”, but since that never happened maybe I’ll get a pair of doggies.
     
  17. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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  18. VanillaGorilla

    VanillaGorilla Well-Known Member

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    I had a cat named Clyde who was born the same week as me in 1992. Grew up with that fat bastard until I was 17, he was awesome.
     
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  19. BlazerWookee

    BlazerWookee UNTILT THE DAMN PINWHEEL!

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    Dimed?
     
  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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