Former Portland Trail Blazers first overall pick Greg Oden is visiting Portland for the first time in over 10 years, according to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes:
Sources: Former No. 1 pick Greg Oden will visit Portland for first time in over a decade on Dec. 27 and will sit courtside with family on Dec. 28 when Trail Blazers hosts Dallas Mavericks. He’s expected to share his story with players and staffers on how he overcame some difficult obstacles.
Specifically, Oden will be attending a Blazers practice on Dec. 27 before attending a game the next day, according to Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian:
An NBA source confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive that Oden will attend a Blazers’ practice. Haynes reported that Oden planned to speak to the team about the hardships he has overcome.
Oden chatted a few months ago with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller about his career and (understandably) having a tough time after injuries forced his retirement:
Oden: Honestly, when I retired, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My mind was all over the place, so I just started going to the gym. … [Butler men’s basketball head coach Thad Matta] brought me back when I was going through a tough time. He brought me around the guys, and eventually, I went back to school and got my degree, and so I’m just being a manager, I’m just helping out at practices where I’m going to school, and then I just kinda fell into it. I got my graduate degree. I was a [graduate assistant], I was a student coach, and then Coach Matta gave me my real opportunity at Butler.
Oden averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in his 82 games as a Trail Blazers.
Portland Trail Blazers fans, get ready to welcome back a familiar face! Greg Oden, the former number one overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, is set to visit Portland for the first time in over 10 years.
Oden, who played for the Blazers from 2007 to 2012, was plagued by injuries throughout his career, preventing him from reaching his full potential. Despite his struggles, Oden remains a beloved figure in Portland, with fans still holding out hope for what could have been.
During his upcoming visit, Oden is expected to reconnect with old teammates, coaches, and fans, reflecting on his time in the city and the impact it had on his career. While his time in Portland may have been short-lived, Oden’s legacy still looms large in the hearts of Blazers fans.
So mark your calendars and get ready to show Greg Oden some love as he returns to Portland for this special visit. It’s sure to be a trip down memory lane for both Oden and Blazers fans alike. Welcome back, Greg!
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