Being selected as the number one pick in the NBA Draft definitely comes with enormous expectations for a player who is usually still in the early stages of life. Some rise to those expectations and create something truly legendary that is remembered for years and years. Others get lost in the whirlwind of the entirely new world they suddenly step into. And when you add one or two injuries and unexpected hurdles along the way, you have yourself a recipe for disaster.
Even though disaster might be a strong word, it is a situation Greg Oden knows all too well. The now-retired big man was projected to do great things in the Association. However, it turned out to be anything but that. After a series of lower-body setbacks, Oden is now often viewed as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. But there is much more to the story than meets the eye.
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While Oden was often under fire from critics and naysayers because of his game, or more accurately, his inability to stay on the court, a much deeper battle was taking place behind the scenes. One that he rarely talked about publicly.
“That was an everyday thing for me. I didn’t want to ask somebody if I was depressed. I didn’t want to ask anybody about anxiety at the time,” G.O. opened up in his recent appearance on the “Pivot Podcast.”
Greg was seen as a franchise changer
The Portland Trail Blazers saw Oden as the guy who would anchor the franchise for years to come.
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A player with an NBA-ready body, dominant interior presence and polished footwork around the basket, Oden was a force during his days at Ohio State. Many believed he was the prototype of the future, especially considering how much the league had historically been dominated by elite centers. But as time passed, he gradually became known as the guy drafted ahead of Kevin Durant, the actual superstar of that draft class.
Just as Oden was preparing to show the world what he could do when healthy, everything changed.
A season-ending microfracture surgery on his right knee delayed the beginning of his NBA journey. Even though people still believed in the young center, it marked the start of a long list of physical issues that would leave basketball fans wondering “what if” for years to come. As the injuries piled up, the narrative around him slowly shifted, and it took a heavy toll on the seven-footer.
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“And as we talked about before, as a black man, you don’t want to bring that to you. So I like to say, how do you overcome doubts, expectations, and narratives? And to overcome all that, you need to decide what you want to do, evolve, and never give up. And when I think about those things, those has become my mantra,” he added.
Oden’s career remains a big “What if”
From microfracture surgery and foot sprains to a bone chip in his knee, a fractured left patella and countless other setbacks, Oden’s injury history looks more like a medical school exam than the résumé of a promising basketball career. Being the No. 1 pick naturally made everything even more difficult mentally.
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At the time, Oden did not want to be vocal about it, even though looking back, he probably should have been. And the truth is, there are likely plenty of players who struggle with the same problem.
No amount of fame, money or success can guarantee inner peace.
Fortunately, in recent years, more NBA veterans have started raising awareness about mental health issues that often fly under the radar. From DeMar DeRozan to Kevin Love, numerous players have shared their own stories in hopes of helping others understand that life in the Association is not always as glamorous as it appears from the outsider’s perspective.
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Depression and anxiety cannot be seen the same way as a broken bone or a swollen ankle can, but they are just as important to address. Oden lived through it and battled it while trying to navigate the expectations that came with being the first overall pick. Unfortunately, the injuries never really stopped following him.
In the end, Oden’s NBA career lasted just 105 games across seven seasons, which clearly puts his name on the long list of “what-ifs.”
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.