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Sports InsiderDisappointment for NBA Fans Everywhere as Number 1 Draft Pick, Greg Oden, is Out for the Season.
September 14th 2007 10:43
Talk about your proverbial nuclear explosion with news that this
year’s number draft choice, Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers, is out for the season following microfracture knee surgery.
This has got to be the worst news that the Trail Blazers and the NBA could hear after a summer of scandal. The NBA Draft this season was widely heralded as one of the best because the top two standout players in Oden and number two pick, Kevin Durant, were sure fire superstars.
We were all looking forward to seeing how these two rookies would fare, but all we’ll be seeing now is a whole bunch of Durant highlight reels, while Blazers fans will look on in despair.
Not only has the city of Portland had their hearts broken with their future franchise centre down and out before his professional career had even begun, but now they have to deal with Sam Bowie comparisons.
‘Who is Sam Bowie?’ All you uninitiated readers out there are wondering. Well, Sam Bowie was the number two pick by Portland in the 1984 Draft, whilst the next pick went to Chicago, and they selected some player by the name of Michael Jordan.
History will show that Michael Jordan became, er, Michael Jordan, whilst Sam Bowie would be perpetually injured, and have a very minor impact on the NBA game.
So, why do we have a comparison now between Bowie and Jordan? Well, basically the Trail Blazers had the chance to draft the most talented player coming out in Kevin Durant, but passed. Talk about a cursed franchise in terms of big men.
Reports are now surfacing that Oden’s body had red flags everywhere and that his body resembled that of an elderly man, rather than that of a 19 year old – bulging disc in the back, bad wrist that had him miss the beginning of his one, and only season in college, ankles, hands, right leg an inch longer than his left leg, and now the knees.
For Portland fans, who are one of the best supporters of their team in the league, this is just another letdown after the Jailblazers years. The city was excited and why wouldn’t they be? There was a franchise changing player coming to their ranks, and not only that, Oden had a winning personality and quick wit. He was the dream player for a small market city.
But right now the visions going around the city, and NBA for that matter, is of Sam Bowie.
Portland can take heart in the fact that Amare Stoudemire had the exact same surgery as Oden and has come back even better. Jason Kidd also had microfracture surgery and had a postseason for the ages. Although, this is a serious injury, Oden’s age and the leaps in medical science give a glimmer of hope that Portland didn’t pass on another all-time great, whilst being forever haunted by that choice.
Speaking as an NBA fan, this was something no one wanted to see. We wanted to see the next Bill Russell, not Sam Bowie 2K7.
Today’s video is a reminder of the immense talent that Oden does possess.
Greg Oden waves goodbye to his season. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
This has got to be the worst news that the Trail Blazers and the NBA could hear after a summer of scandal. The NBA Draft this season was widely heralded as one of the best because the top two standout players in Oden and number two pick, Kevin Durant, were sure fire superstars.
We were all looking forward to seeing how these two rookies would fare, but all we’ll be seeing now is a whole bunch of Durant highlight reels, while Blazers fans will look on in despair.
Not only has the city of Portland had their hearts broken with their future franchise centre down and out before his professional career had even begun, but now they have to deal with Sam Bowie comparisons.
‘Who is Sam Bowie?’ All you uninitiated readers out there are wondering. Well, Sam Bowie was the number two pick by Portland in the 1984 Draft, whilst the next pick went to Chicago, and they selected some player by the name of Michael Jordan.
History will show that Michael Jordan became, er, Michael Jordan, whilst Sam Bowie would be perpetually injured, and have a very minor impact on the NBA game.
So, why do we have a comparison now between Bowie and Jordan? Well, basically the Trail Blazers had the chance to draft the most talented player coming out in Kevin Durant, but passed. Talk about a cursed franchise in terms of big men.
Reports are now surfacing that Oden’s body had red flags everywhere and that his body resembled that of an elderly man, rather than that of a 19 year old – bulging disc in the back, bad wrist that had him miss the beginning of his one, and only season in college, ankles, hands, right leg an inch longer than his left leg, and now the knees.
Sam Bowie still gives Portland fans nightmares. (Image from ESPN.com)
But right now the visions going around the city, and NBA for that matter, is of Sam Bowie.
Portland can take heart in the fact that Amare Stoudemire had the exact same surgery as Oden and has come back even better. Jason Kidd also had microfracture surgery and had a postseason for the ages. Although, this is a serious injury, Oden’s age and the leaps in medical science give a glimmer of hope that Portland didn’t pass on another all-time great, whilst being forever haunted by that choice.
Speaking as an NBA fan, this was something no one wanted to see. We wanted to see the next Bill Russell, not Sam Bowie 2K7.
Today’s video is a reminder of the immense talent that Oden does possess.
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