You Decide: Greg Oden or Kevin Durant? 12.26.2007 - Updated on 01.11.2008
 | | | | | | | | | | Now that the NBA season has almost reached it’s half-way point, and we have seen how somethings have played out, let’s go back in time to June 28th, 2007, which is the day of the 2007 NBA draft. If you were apart of the Portland Trail Blazer management team, would you select Greg Oden or Kevin Durant? Greg Oden as most fans know had to have mircofacture surgery on his ailing knee on Sept 14, 2007 and that forced him to sit out the entire season. Kevin Durant meanwhile has started all 28 games, is averaging 20 ppg, 4.4 rbs, 2.1 ast, 1.2 bpg, and 1 spg. Kevin is by far the leading candidate for rookie of the year, and he has shown he has superstar potential already in his first season. Before the NBA draft there was a long debate about who would make the better number one pick. Most people, including myself felt, that you couldn’t pass up on a player like Greg Oden, Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr, described Greg as a "Once-in-a-decade player". But some team executives who brought Greg in for his pre-draft exam, said their team doctors saw some early signs of arthrits in his knees and they also had concern with his back and hip.
One team doctor said all three spots contribute to one another, "His knee hurts because his back is having troubles, and the back is having troubles, because his hip keeps acting up". There are a few NBA players that have had the same operation done and bounced back fine, but it requires moving the joint in a nonimpact manner, such as riding a stationary bike, to stimulate tissue growth. Portland GM Kevin Pritchard said "Greg is going to have the tag , that he is injury-prone, and he is going to have to prove people wrong". The Portland Trail Blazers have extended their NBA winning streak to 11 games by beating Kevin Durant’s Seattle Supersonics.
Some observers are starting to wonder what type of team Portland would have if Kevin Durant was on it right now? An executive for the Spurs admitted the young Trail Blazers probably would have the best record in the Western Conference if Kevin Durant was on the Trail Blazers right now. So far we see what the short-term results has been, but long-term how do you think it will play out. Will both Greg and Kevin have successful careers and it won’t matter which one was taken first? Will people feel Kevin should have been number one, and Greg won’t live up to his potential? Will Greg prove that he is worthy of the number one selection and prove the doubters wrong? I’m interested in seeing what you all think. For me I have said it all along that I feel Greg will be a great NBA player and should be the number one pick. I’m confident Greg will recover fully and work hard at getting back in playing shape, and when he returns to the court, he will dominate eventually.
It puzzles me that people keep talking about how much better the Trail Blazers would be if they had Kevin playing for them right now. But what’s up with them not showing the same love to Greg, if he was on the court with his team I’m sure they could be just as good. This will be an interesting debate for many years to come. |
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Posted by
Hurricane Christina
on 01.29.2008 | Actually Tony, it is split among GM’s when they were asked the question. Half said they would have still taken Oden, and the other half said they would go with Durant. It’s sports, you can’t really predict injury, hell the same could happen to Kevin next season, when Greg is back. Would you change your answer then? I’m not pro or con against anyone’s view, I just like looking at both sides and being objective. I still feel Greg is a better fit for Portland than Kevin. Portland’s GM said he’d make that smae pick each time, and I can’t blame him. Both are talented, but Greg can bounce back, and avoid the term injury prone. . | Posted by
tony
on 01.28.2008 | actually, nathan washington, please read my response again. i am answering the question posed. you are the one that is slow. my point is oden has proved nothing and durant has proved himself as a future nba superstar. if right now you have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and you knew that oden was going to be injured and durant would be as good as he is, i don’t know a single nba gm that would go with oden. you’d have to be an idiot to do that. it’s all about managing risk. put it this way, if oden’s physical had even shown him to be prone to such an injury, he would have NEVER gone as no 1. even if all portland did was sit durant on the bench all season, they would still be in the same place they are now. and he wouldn’t have to carry the load for portland like he does for seattle, so he’d be better. check yourself before you speak again. . | Posted by
Dr. Richard Thomas
on 01.4.2008 | Great points from the the person below me. I agree that Greg Oden was the better choice for Portland and he will be a difference maker for them, when he gets back. Kevin may have the better individual career, but Greg will have more team success and that is what is important . | Posted by
on 01.4.2008 | Three reasons why the Blazers made the right pick: 1) Durant takes 17 shots/game, if he was on the Blazers would his teammates be developing as well as they have without as many touches? 2) The Blazers’ biggest weakness this year is rebounding, which Oden will help with more than Durant. 3) Portland has won 14 out of 15 games on team play, Durant is a solid individual but does he make his teammates better? Oden will add another weapon to the offense on pick and rolls...setting picks is also important to free up Portland’s shooters (Pryzbilla does that now but has no offense). He’ll also add interior defense. . | Posted by
Nathan Washington
on 12.31.2007 | The person below me is a little slow. Obviously Durant is ahead because of Oden being hurt. But the question was referring to long-term who would you have taken. Both players are good, but at the time Greg was the better choice because of how skilled his is at center which they needed more than Kevin’s spot. I think it will be an interesting debate for a long time about who was the better choice, you never know how things might play out. That’s what sports are all about . | Posted by
there is such a thing as a dumb question after all
on 12.31.2007 | is this a rhetorical question? let’s see, would you rather have picked someone who has proven himself as a legitimate future nba superstar (durant) or someone who if he recovers from a very serious injury such that he is the same again might potentially be someone who might prove himself to be a future nba superstar (oden)? tough call, i don’t know. . | Posted by
Anna King Cole
on 12.30.2007 | I would have picked Kevin Durant. That kid is great! Once I see Oden stay healthy than maybe I can get a better idea who the better choice will be long-term. Luckly Portland is doing good, to make them forget they lost thier future franchise player for the season. . | Posted by
Jessica S
on 12.29.2007 | I’m surprised how well, Portland has adjusted to not having Greg. I definetly thought that would be a major blow to their season. Right now they have shown they don’t need either one. They are only going to get better when he gets back. Greg is a proven winner and a great player and I’m looking forward to seeing him be successful in a Blazer uniform for many years . | Posted by
Derrick Nick Anderson a.k.a. DNA
on 12.29.2007 | I definetly think Portland made the right choice by taking Greg Oden. It may look bad to some, but wait until he is healthy and playing to his potential everyone will forget he was even hurt for the entire season.Kevin is great and doing his thing right now, but on draft day it was a must for the Trail Blazers to take the chance on Greg,if they knew he was possibly injury-prone. Both should have great careers though . | Posted by
Tony Phillips
on 12.28.2007 | It truly is a hard choice. It’s easy to look at in the short-term (right now) perspective. But long-term is what makes it harder to choose. I would say Greg Oden was the right choice for #1, but Kevin will have the better career stat wise. But it’s about winning ball games and getting to championships, and Greg Oden has always been a winner everywhere he goes . | Posted by
D.Macc
on 12.27.2007 | I agree with Texas Tim, that Greg Oden may have a Grant Hill type career. He may very well be a star, but won’t live up to his peak potential, because he may miss so much time being injuried. Of course I hope that doesn’t happen to him, but it is very likely it could. I think Portland should have went with Kevin instead, it’s the much safer choice . | Posted by
Rich Owens-Gonzalez
on 12.27.2007 | Both players are ballers, but right now I have to say the edge goes to Kevin as far being the better player and will have the better career. But if I had to choose on draft day and I was Portland, I admit I would have taken Greg Oden, what he had to offer was much more needed than what Kevin brought to the table. Hopefully Greg doesn’t fall behind too far and gets left in the dust by Kevin. I think when he comes back he’ll do well . | Posted by
Texas Tim
on 12.27.2007 | I remember on draft night telling my homies. Portland better select Kevin Durant, he is a legit superstar in the making and is going to have a good start instantly. Greg gets hurt to much, and I don’t think he will live up to the hype like KD. I wasn’t shocked to see things play out this way so far, Greg getting hurt, and Kevin off to a fast start. I love Kevin Durant and I think he is the better player and will have the more successful career. Greg is a good player, but I don’t think he’s going to have a superstar career. Or he may be the next Grant Hill if you know what I mean . | Posted by
Columbus Guy
on 12.27.2007 | It is definitely going to be an interesting debate for many years. I have faith that Portland choose the right person in Greg Oden. The only reason the Kevin Durant hype is circulating is because Greg is not even playing. It’s easy for people to say see you should have picked Keving look at what he is doing right now, when the other guy has even got started yet. Although Greg is "injury-prone" he is a once-in-decade player and has too much talent to pa-------up. I bet people who have it the other way around if it was Kevin that was injured and Greg playing. I think both will have very good careers and be future Hall of Famers . | Posted by
Matt Madsen
on 12.27.2007 | Hmm... it’s tough to decide, but I’m going to have to go with Kevin Durant, he has definitely proven his worth as the real deal. I’m sure when Greg finally plays he will have a solid career, but Kevin Durant is going to be a face in this league for 10 years or more. Just think what he is playing like right now as a rookie, he is only going to get better. I was thinking during the game the other day, too bad Kevin is not on Portland. I just hope they don’t have another Sam Bowie situation on their hands . | Posted by
minor-leaguer
on 12.27.2007 | Greg is definitely gonna recover, and show the people what he’s all about. Even though he gest injuried often, he always play well anyway. It’s amazing to see how he plays at 75%, just think what he could do at 100%. Kevin is very good, but Portland made the right choice in going with Greg . | Posted by
Future Scout
on 12.27.2007 | I think both will be great players, but I think Kevin will have the better career stat wise, while Greg will have more team success . |
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