Let me walk you through how to track the journey of an NBA first pick draft selection, using the 2007 draft as our case study. I've always found draft stories fascinating - these young athletes carry such heavy expectations the moment their name gets called. The process I'm about to share is something I've refined over years of following basketball careers, and it works surprisingly well whether you're researching recent picks or going back decades like we're doing today.
First, you'll want to establish the basic facts - who was selected, by which team, and what the general consensus was at the time. For the 2007 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Greg Oden as the first overall pick. I remember watching that draft live and feeling the electricity in the room - there was this palpable tension between Oden and Kevin Durant, with most experts leaning toward Oden despite Durant's incredible offensive potential. Portland went with the 7-foot center from Ohio State, believing he'd be their franchise cornerstone for years to come. What's crucial at this stage is verifying information through multiple reliable sources like NBA.com, ESPN archives, or reputable basketball publications. I've learned the hard way that fan sites sometimes get details wrong, so cross-referencing is essential.
Now comes the interesting part - tracking their career trajectory. This is where you'll need to dig deeper than just statistics, though numbers certainly matter. With Oden, his rookie season was delayed due to microfracture surgery on his right knee - that was the first red flag in what would become a pattern of injury troubles. When he did play, he showed flashes of brilliance - I particularly remember his rookie year matchup against Miami where he had 13 points and 20 rebounds. But the injuries kept piling up: fractured patella, additional knee surgeries, various setbacks. What I find helpful when analyzing a player's career is creating a timeline - major games, injuries, team changes, and notable performances. For Oden, his Portland tenure lasted just 82 games spread over five seasons - fewer games than a single healthy NBA season.
The methodology I use involves examining both quantitative and qualitative factors. Statistically, Oden averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in his 105 total NBA games - decent numbers considering his limited playing time, but far below what you'd expect from a first pick. Qualitatively, you need to look at interviews, teammate comments, and how coaches utilized him. I've spoken with several basketball analysts who believe Oden had Hall of Fame potential if healthy - his combination of size, athleticism, and basketball IQ was truly special. The disappointment wasn't about his ability but his body's refusal to cooperate. This pattern reminds me of current athletes facing similar challenges - like that incredible Filipina tennis player who recently pushed world No. 16 Barbora Krejcikova to the limit in that two-hour, ten-minute Wimbledon match before falling 6-3, 2-6, 1-6. Both cases show how physical durability can make or break even the most promising careers.
Where is Greg Oden now? This is where your research gets personal. After his NBA career ended, Oden completed his degree at Ohio State - something I respect tremendously. He's worked as a student manager for the Buckeyes' basketball team and more recently as a director of basketball operations. I read an interview where he described his current relationship with basketball as "healthier" - he's involved in the sport but without the pressure that nearly broke him. The transition from can't-miss prospect to regular life couldn't have been easy. When I look at Oden's story compared to other first picks like LeBron James or Tim Duncan, it's a stark reminder that draft position guarantees nothing. My personal take? The Blazers made the right choice with the information they had - Oden was considered a generational talent, and passing on him would have been criticized regardless of what Durant became.
The cautionary elements here are worth noting - injuries can derail any career, no matter how promising. Oden's knees simply couldn't handle the demands of professional basketball. What I find particularly interesting is how his story parallels other sports - like that young Filipina tennis player at Wimbledon who showed incredible promise in her first grand slam campaign before fading in the final sets. Both demonstrate that early brilliance doesn't always translate to sustained success, though for very different reasons. When evaluating draft picks, I've learned to consider not just talent but durability, mental toughness, and support systems. Oden had the talent in spades but lacked the physical durability.
Wrapping this up, the story of who was the 2007 first pick NBA draft selection reveals much about the unpredictability of sports careers. Greg Oden's journey from coveted prospect to role player to basketball operations staffer isn't the narrative anyone expected, but it's a valuable lesson in managing expectations. The methodology I've shared here - establishing facts, tracking the career arc, analyzing both numbers and human elements - can be applied to any draft pick research. What stays with me most is Oden's resilience in finding his way back to basketball on his own terms. His story, like many in sports, is ultimately about adaptation and finding new ways to contribute to the game you love, even when your original path doesn't work out as planned.