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"I don't let that term define me" - Greg Oden opens up about being labeled NBA bust
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- "I don't let that term define me" - Greg Oden opens up about being labeled NBA bust
Greg Oden , the first overall pick in 2007, had the talent to build a great NBA career, but unfortunately, injuries got in the way. He didn't play his rookie season due to microfracture surgery and played a total of 82 games in the next two years. The Portland Trail Blazers center then skipped three seasons, from 2010 to 2013.
Oden is easily one of the biggest 'what ifs' in NBA history. A bust? Most people say yes.
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But what does Oden himself think?
What makes Oden think he is a bust?
Kevin Durant , for example, would never call his fellow draft classmate a bust. Instead, the second overall pick in 2007 blames injuries for his downfall.
" First of all, I don't let that term define me. Now, I'm going to always give nothing but praise to KD. I really appreciated him when he said that," said Oden.
Still, Durant's greatness ultimately became part of Oden's legacy. Because Oden was selected No. 1 ahead of Durant, their careers were constantly compared, with Durant's success making Oden look even more like a bust.
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Even Oden himself eventually acknowledged that the circumstances made him feel like one.
" Remember when KD hit that shot over LeBron in the playoffs? When they went to commercial, it was a Nike commercial ," remembered Oden. " I was always number two. Number two this. It felt like I was getting shi—ed on. If Kevin Durant is this great, by comparison, I'm the biggest bust."
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Producing a movie "Bust"
Despite an unfortunate NBA career, Oden remains grateful for the opportunities basketball gave him. He played in the best league in the world and even reached the highest stage, appearing in the 2013-14 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat against the San Antonio Spurs .
Rather than dwelling on what his career could have been, Oden has embraced his journey — one that eventually inspired him to become the executive producer of the movie "Bust," a story that closely reflects his own experience.
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" I resonated with the story because it's not about a bust. It's about somebody getting a second opportunity. A bust is somebody that had the opportunity and did nothing with it. But in this movie and in my life, I got the second opportunity, " he said.
Despite his effort to come back on court after so many injuries, Oden's body couldn't keep up. Still, he did find a way to stay in the basketball world. In 2016, he returned to Ohio State and eventually got his undergraduate degree. In 2021, he returned to pursue a master's in Sport Coaching.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
