I sort of doubt he could now, tbh.
All I remember about Oden was he looked like he was already 40. The way Ibaka looked 35 when he was supposed to be 25
I sort of doubt he could now, tbh.
I don't think that's fair given a couple factors.
1. Oden's knees derailing his career.
2. NBA getting way softer favors Durant.
eeeh I don't know if it's softer today
If you watch full games from the 80s 90s you'll see a lot of soft fouls, flopping and whining tbh
All I'm saying is, I saw both play in college and thought, "I would take Durant and it's not close."
Oden didn't look that great in college. He averaged 15 and 9, good but not amazing. And he had to miss the NCAA tournament, so we didn't even get that large of a sample. So what was anyone basing their opinion on? They probably just got caught up in the "hype" and let that influence their perception.
Oden was overhyped. Even without the knee injury, he would be a role player starting center at best. To be fair, that still makes him better than the other "busts" mentioned in the OP. But, if you expected him to be a superstar, he would have technically busted.
When you're 6'10" with Durant's skillset, I don't care what year it is - I'm drafting that guy.
Oden didn’t miss the NCAA tournament, you’re just making stuff up now. Even though his team lost he looked like the most dominant player on the court in the championship game against Florida, he had 25 and 12 against an elite front court in Noah/Horford.
Ah, my mistake. I remember him missing some games due to hand injury - didn't he break his hand? I actually went to the Final Four that year in San Antonio and recall him looking really unimpressive - so much that I forgot he even played
Went to a few UT games that year, and Durant looked amazing.
He missed games at the beginning of the season because of the wrist, no injury issues after that though. He had a decent game against Georgetown and a great game against Florida - I remember the final four that year because it was the one season I predicted the final four, championship game and champion correctly
The one thing I think people might have “missed” with Oden is that he never looked totally comfortable on a basketball court the way elite big men did. There was a degree of awkwardness whenever he had the ball in his hands and he didn’t have the coordination that a Duncan or Olajuwon had, and I don’t think that’s unrelated to his injury issues.
Oden looked like his floor was Alonzo Mourning with size and he was a guy NBA scouts had been drooling over for years the same way they did LeBron. He never put up huge stats since he was on minutes restrictions but he was a monster talent and the Blazers were nasty with him on the floor. I don't see how he can be mentioned with the likes of Anthony Bennett who just flat out never belonged on an NBA floor.
You're better than that.
Disagree. Dude was a beast out there when healthy. Oden just went the way of Ralph Sampson quite fast.
Not making a player comparison on soft as much as how the game was played.
Let's not pretend Lebron ain't getting spa treatment he wouldn't have gotten pre-Stern.
Exactly - and that was the total opposite of Durant, who looked like a natural wizard on the court at all times. He played some center in college and could also play shooting guard. This is why I thought it was ridiculous that Oden was ranked above him. And I'm usually one to favor big men over perimeter players, but in this case it was just too clear cut. (And maybe some bias because I'm a Texas fan.)
Last edited by Arcadian; 08-06-2020 at 01:41 PM.
Jimmer
the rest of those guys had injury issues that helped play into them being underwhelming
Sometimes Kenny is insufferable. Telling all that nonsense
I remember during the playoffs, Kenny came up with a re ed analysis and Barkley told him : "That's your insight????!!!!"
He who shall not be named.
ing LSU, man. Was all in on the hype train after that Sugar Bowl
This. All of this.
Or:
Wonder where this world-beater will slink off to next?Rumor: Lonzo Ball looked ‘checked out’ with Pelicans in bubble -->>
Ball will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason. This will be an opportunity for the Pelicans to determine how much they value him. But if they don’t sign him to an extension before next season, they’d still hold control in 2021 restricted free agency.
Sure ifcyiu believe in fantasies both Oden and Roy were injurycprobe in college just like Sam Bowie before them. Roy eas a good gamble but therecis no way in im taking oden over KD and i said that then so its not revisionist history. Most saw David Robinson 2.0 but he walked funny to me and i knew he would never stay healrhy and that hack Bill Simmons called it too.
Oden had a wrist injury, ridiculous to compare that to Sam Bowie who missed two seasons in college before being drafted.
He was also mad ugly yo
Like the only way he’s getting featured on a wheaties (or Slam Duncan 0’s) box is if he wore a mask
PORTLAND loves deja vu
Pass on MJ for big Bowie who was always hurt
Pass on Durant for big Oden who was always hurt
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