Greg Oden Contract History: A Look Back At The Career of The Former NBA Star
Greg Oden is a name that many basketball fans may not be familiar with. However, those who followed college basketball in the late 2000s and early 2010s likely remember the towering center who was once hailed as the next big thing in the NBA.
Oden was drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA Draft. At the time, he was considered a can`t-miss prospect. Standing at 7-feet tall and weighing 280 pounds, he was a dominant force in college, leading Ohio State to the NCAA championship game in 2007.
However, Oden`s NBA career was plagued by injuries. He missed his entire rookie season due to microfracture surgery on his knee and played in just 82 games over the next five seasons. Despite his injury troubles, Oden was able to secure a few lucrative contracts during his time in the NBA.
Here`s a look back at Oden`s contract history:
Portland Trail Blazers (2007-2012)
Oden signed a two-year rookie contract with the Blazers worth $8.9 million. However, he missed his entire rookie season due to the knee surgery and played in just 61 games over the next two seasons. In 2009, the Blazers picked up their team option on Oden for the 2010-11 season, paying him $6.8 million. He played in just 21 games that season before suffering another knee injury.
Miami Heat (2013-2014)
After sitting out the 2012-13 season, Oden signed a one-year deal with the Miami Heat worth $1.03 million. The Heat were hoping to revive Oden`s career and add some size to their frontcourt. He played sparingly during the regular season but saw some action in the playoffs, helping the Heat reach the NBA Finals. Oden appeared in 23 games for the Heat, averaging 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Nanjing Tongxi (2015)
Following his brief stint in Miami, Oden signed with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association but was released after just two months. He resurfaced later that year with the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings, but played in just one game before being released.
Big3 (2018)
In 2018, Oden joined the Big3, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league featuring former NBA players. He played for the Aliens, but the team struggled and finished with a 1-5 record.
While Oden`s NBA career didn`t live up to the hype, he was able to earn over $24 million in salary during his time in the league. He is now retired from basketball and has been working as a student coach at Ohio State, his alma mater. Despite his injury-plagued career, Oden remains a respected figure in the basketball community and is remembered for his dominant play at the college level.