The man pictured above is former NBA center, Same Bowie. Ever heard of him? No? Exactly. Many who have heard of Bowie know him not for the player he was, but the player he wasn't. The year is 1984, Portland has the second overall pick, they selectedthe 7 footer Bowie and pass up on a talented, athletic swingman who was the reigning collegiate player of the year. Bowie went on to average 10 points and 7 rebounds for his career. The player selected third became the uncontested greatest basketball player who ever lived, Michael Jeffery Jordan. Today we have learned that this wouldn't be the first time Portland made a draft blunder like this.
In 2007 Portland selected Greg Oden, the 7 footer from Ohio State. Then reigning player of the year, Kevin Durant of Texas was selected second to Seattle (now Oklahoma City). Oden is now undergoing his third season ending surgery out of his four year career. Oden's best season thus far has been 2009-2010 when he averaged 11-8 over 21 games, he made one play-off appearance in 2009 averaging 5 points and 4 rebounds in 6 games . Kevin Durant is a scoring champion, all-star, All-NBA First Team selection, MVP runner-up, and gold medalist in the FIBA World Championships. It's safe to say that at this point, Greg Oden, like Sam Bowie is one of the biggest draft busts in the history of professional sports.
Next time Portland has to choose between the tallest player or the best player in college basketball, they should go with the latter. As history has shown us, that guy turns out to be the player of their generation.
After his first couple of injuries I thought to myself well alright Bill Walton hardly played a full decade and earned 2 rings an a hall of fame induction along the way. Now that pipe dream for Oden is just like any hope of an impact in the league.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to call someone a bust when it really has just been an incredible string of bad luck that may have ruined their shot. However, there is no better word to describe Greg Oden in the NBA then disappointment. Yes there were injury concerns but at the time of the Oden Durant draft the Shaq Lakers were still in recent memory of what a great big center can do for a franchise. Many teams would have jumped at the chance to land Oden even with the great shooting sensation that now is Kevin Durant on the card as well.
It's ideal to build a franchise around a big man considering every dynasty that the NBA has seen (with the exception of Jordan's Bulls) have featured a dominant post player.
ReplyDeletePortland's choice wasn't a stupid one at the time. It's just ironic. Portland was in the same exact situation, twice. They had a high draft pick, an up and coming two-guard (Clyde Drexler, Brandon Roy)and a choice between a an all-american center (Sam Bowie, Greg Oden) and the college player of the year (Jordan, Durant). They the made the same exact pick, and it produced the same exact result.