Who Was the 1st Pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and Where Are They Now?

I still remember sitting in my dorm room watching the 2007 NBA Draft unfold on that June evening. The speculation had been building for months about who would go first, with analysts debating between Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. When then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Portland Trail Blazers had selected Greg Oden as the first overall pick, it felt like the beginning of what promised to be a legendary career. Looking back now, sixteen years later, Oden's journey represents one of the most compelling "what if" stories in modern sports history.

Oden entered the league with what scouts called "once-in-a-generation" potential. Standing at 7 feet tall with a remarkable wingspan and athleticism rarely seen in players his size, he'd dominated college basketball at Ohio State despite playing with a wrist injury. I recall watching him lead the Buckeyes to the NCAA championship game as a freshman, where he put up 25 points and 12 rebounds against a stacked Florida team. His physical tools were extraordinary - he could protect the rim, rebound effectively, and finish around the basket with either hand. The Blazers organization and their fans believed they had found their franchise cornerstone, the big man who would anchor their team for the next decade.

The unfortunate reality is that Oden's NBA career never truly got started due to persistent knee injuries. He missed his entire rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. When he finally debuted in 2008, he showed flashes of that incredible potential - I remember being particularly impressed by his 11-point, 10-rebound, 4-block performance against the Lakers in just his fourth professional game. But the injury troubles continued, with multiple surgeries on both knees ultimately derailing his career. After playing just 82 games across five seasons with Portland - essentially one full season's worth of games spread over half a decade - the Blazers waived him in 2012. He attempted brief comebacks with Miami and Memphis, but his body simply wouldn't cooperate with his ambitions.

What's fascinating to me is considering Oden's career in contrast to the second pick that year, Kevin Durant. While Oden struggled to stay on the court, Durant developed into one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, winning multiple championships and MVP awards. This comparison isn't meant to diminish Oden's abilities - when healthy, he was genuinely impactful. During the 2009-10 season, his most extended stretch of health, Oden averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just 23.9 minutes per game. Project those numbers to starter's minutes, and you're looking at All-Star caliber production. The tragedy isn't that Oden lacked talent, but that his body couldn't sustain the demands of professional basketball.

These days, Oden has rebuilt his life away from the spotlight. He completed his degree at Ohio State in 2019 and has worked as a student manager for the Buckeyes basketball program. More recently, he's served as a director of player development for the Butler Bulldogs. By all accounts, he's found peace in mentoring young athletes rather than pursuing professional opportunities overseas, which some former NBA players in his situation might have considered. I respect that he's chosen to stay connected to basketball in a capacity that doesn't put additional strain on his body while allowing him to share the wisdom gained from his unique experiences.

Thinking about Oden's story inevitably makes me reflect on how professional sports careers can take unexpected turns, much like what we're seeing with emerging tennis star Alex Eala, whose recent quarterfinal exit at the WTA 125 Suzhou tournament after another grueling three-set match shows just how demanding the journey can be for any athlete. The parallels between different sports are striking - both Oden and Eala have faced those moments where the "going got tough," though their responses and career trajectories have naturally differed. For Oden, physical limitations proved insurmountable, while for current athletes like Eala, each tournament represents another opportunity to push through barriers.

What strikes me most about Oden's post-playing career is his honesty about his struggles. In interviews, he's been remarkably candid about dealing with depression and alcohol abuse during and after his NBA career. This vulnerability has made him something of a mentor for younger athletes facing similar challenges. He's spoken about the difficulty of transitioning from being the center of attention to living a normal life, something many professional athletes struggle with but few discuss openly. I appreciate his willingness to be transparent about these issues - it adds depth to his story beyond the typical narrative of a "draft bust."

The legacy of being a first overall pick never quite leaves these athletes, regardless of how their careers unfold. For Oden, that distinction will always be part of his identity, even as he's built a meaningful life beyond basketball. His story serves as a poignant reminder that athletic careers are fragile things, subject to forces beyond an athlete's control despite their talent and dedication. When I think about the 2007 draft class today, I don't see Oden's story as a failure but as a human narrative about adapting to circumstances and finding new purposes. His current work in collegiate basketball development suggests he's channeled his experiences into helping others navigate their own athletic journeys, which strikes me as a pretty meaningful second act.