7. Greg Oden stays healthy?
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Oden with the number one overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State. Portland vaulted up from seventh in the lottery to take him over Kevin Durant in what turned into a massive mistake, but they were not the only team that would have made that move.
Oden was dominant during his one year with the Buckeyes. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. The seven-footer won a host of awards and showcased his unbelievable athletic gifts during the pre-draft process. Many viewed him as the heir apparent to Shaq as the league’s next dominant big man.
Oden suffered a knee injury before his first NBA game and missed his entire rookie season. It was the start of a tumultuous career that was plagued by missed time. He had multiple surgeries and played 82 games over five years when Portland released him in 2012.
Fans saw the flashes of dominance when he was healthy. He opened the 2009-10 season averaging 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just 23.9 minutes per game. Imagine if he stayed healthy and could push closer to 30 minutes each night. Oden could have been one of the league’s best big men.
Greg Oden had all the psychical gifts NBA teams desire in a center, but he was unable to stay on the floor. The seven-footer had a ton of promise, and nobody can say what would have been without the knee injuries.