Greg Oden Can (or Could?) Play Tallest in the NBA

Doug Thonus added in the no-step max reach for players in the NBA to the DX measurements database.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?year=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=9

Greg Oden is the tallest at 12'. Tyrus Thomas is the next player of note at 11'10" with Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor tied at that height. Tyson Chandler isn't that far down the list either.

 

Awesome!!! Thanks.

 

Thanks for posting. I'm not totally surprised. If you compare Greg's per-48 stats, he's up there with the best big men in the game. Oden's biggest problem was foul trouble. Once he gets that corrected and can stay on the floor, I'm expecting big things from GO.

-Pop

 

That's nice. I wonder what it is now, post-surgery. The answer might be a bit depressing.

(Also interesting: for those people who claim that Dwight Howard is more athletic than Shaq was - check out who leads all players on non-no-step vertical. Polish Hammer represents at the same height as Oden!)

(Was it true that Clyde could dunk on a 12 foot rim? That would put him higher than any of these. Who the hell is Kenny Gregory? Under 6'4" and could out-reach Oden?)

 

The surgery wasn't expected to worsen his explosiveness or athleticism. Of course, that isn't a guarantee. I guess we'll see next season, after he's had an off-season to get back into his pre-draft shape (in terms of fitness and weight).

 

This could be a little misleading, because didn't Dwight Howard dunk on a 12' hoop during the all-star break?

Edit: My bad, it's no step vert

 

Yao isn't listed for some reason.

 

I remember when those numbers first came out how impressed I was by Oden's 12' combination of standing reach and no-step vertical. The top of the square above the basket is 11'6". So, without even taking a step, Oden can touch 6" above the top of the square. That's insane. 30 years ago, when I was in my prime, I could come within 3" of touching the top of the square - with a full running start (8'3" standing reach, 36" max. vertical). Oden get's up a full 9" higher - without a running start. Imagine how scary it would be to try to get a shot off against a guy who can go straight up and get up a full 2' above the rim.

I think he'll be there again - once he loses some weight and gets back in per-surgery shape. The microfracture surgery itself (once healed) has no impact on vertical leap. But, the recovery period is long, and prevents stressing the knee while it's healing. In Oden's case, given his very young age, I think the Blazers were extra cautious, prolonged the healing period and delayed his conditioning. If he can now do squats without pain, it's only a matter for time until he regains all., or at least most, of his explosiveness.

BNM

 

Yeah, maybe not all the way down to his college weight, but closer to that weight than 300. More like Orlando Shaq than LA Shaq.

 

I shouldn't have treated it like a binary thing, Orlando/LA...he added weight over time. When he was in his first couple of seasons in Orlando, he was around 260-270 lbs. Very mobile and athletic. As he got older, he put on more weight, lost some mobility and also played less active team defense.

 

Hmm, he doesn't look 290 lbs in the picture I posted of him, but I guess it's hard to gauge how much weight a seven-footer is carrying.

 

You have just touched on a major conundrum.

To regain his college explosiveness/agility, he needs to lose weight. To stay healthy, the best thing might be for him to *add* muscle in his lower body. A stronger base would also help him establish and hold position on the low block. Great NBA rebounders don't just rely on leaping ability....they have to master timing and positioning.

 

Interesting stats. That would be cool if it went back to the 80s, so we could see how guys like Jordan and Drexler stacked up.

We all knew that Brandon had deceptive athleticism, but he has a higher vertical than Derrick Rose, Tracy McGrady, Tyrus Thomas, and surprisingly Jerryd Bayless, who measured at 38. Respectable, when he looks more like a 43+ guy to me. Another surprising stat, Rudy Fernandez had one of the best agility times recorded. It was the same as Speedy Claxtons

Also, Oden's wingspan is only '.75 less than Shawn Bradley's.

But talk about guys with freakish wingspans, there's a prospect who is 6'8, but has a 7'5 inch wingspan, that is longer than Odens. He's some no namer though, "Shawn James".

 

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?year=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=7

Chris Marcus - 7'1" 7'8" Wingspan 334 Lbs. 23% Body Fat.

Get him.

 

This is the weight I'd like to see Greg at this coming season. The 285-290 range was such a horrible idea. Get back down into the 250-255 range!

 

What a great pic!!!!