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

I still remember the summer of 2007 like it was yesterday—the buzz around Greg Oden was absolutely electric. As someone who's followed NBA drafts for over two decades, I've rarely seen such unanimous consensus about a first pick. The Portland Trail Blazers selected the 7-foot center from Ohio State, choosing him over Kevin Durant in what remains one of the most debated draft decisions in recent memory. Looking back now, with the benefit of hindsight, I can't help but wonder how different things might have been if they'd gone the other way.

Oden's career trajectory serves as a sobering reminder of how fragile an athlete's potential can be. Before even playing his first regular season game, he underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee—a procedure that would become hauntingly familiar throughout his career. I recall watching his debut being delayed until 2008 and thinking this wasn't the start anyone had envisioned for the player many compared to Bill Russell. When he finally did take the court, he showed flashes of that dominant defensive presence we'd all expected, averaging 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in 61 games during his rookie season. But the injury cycle never truly ended. Multiple knee surgeries later, Oden played his last NBA game in 2014, appearing in just 105 total games over his career.

What strikes me most about Oden's story isn't just the basketball aspect—it's the human element. I've interviewed numerous athletes whose careers were cut short by injuries, and there's a particular sadness that comes with unfulfilled potential. Oden eventually returned to Ohio State to complete his degree, which I've always respected tremendously. These days, he's working as a student manager for the Ohio State basketball program while finishing his education. It's a humble, grounded path that contrasts sharply with the superstar trajectory we all predicted for him. He's also been open about his struggles with alcohol following his basketball career, showing a vulnerability that's rare among professional athletes.

The parallel between Oden's story and the recent Wimbledon performance by that 20-year-old Filipina tennis player is striking. Watching her push world No. 16 Barbora Krejcikova to the limit in that two-hour, ten-minute match before falling 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 reminded me how young athletes often carry the weight of enormous expectations. Just like Oden, she demonstrated incredible potential in her maiden campaign at the prestigious grass-court grand slam. I've seen this pattern repeat itself across sports—the explosive debut, the early struggle, and then either breakthrough or breakdown. In tennis, the physical demands are different from basketball, but the psychological pressure on young prospects feels remarkably similar.

Reflecting on the 2007 draft class now, it's fascinating to see how careers have diverged. Kevin Durant, selected second, became an MVP and one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. Al Horford, picked third, has enjoyed a remarkably consistent 15-plus year career. Meanwhile, Oden's journey took him to China for a brief stint before ultimately stepping away from professional basketball. I've always believed that evaluating draft picks requires understanding both physical talent and mental resilience—qualities that are impossible to fully assess in pre-draft workouts. Oden had the physical tools to be legendary, but his body simply wouldn't cooperate.

There's a lesson here about sports narratives and how we anoint future stars before they've proven anything. I'm guilty of this myself—in 2007, I wrote several pieces proclaiming Oden as the next great NBA center. We tend to view athletic potential as linear progression, but reality is much messier. The 20-year-old tennis player from the Philippines might become a champion, or she might follow a path more like Oden's—showing incredible promise before facing the harsh realities of professional sports. What I've learned from covering sports for this long is that we should appreciate these early performances without burdening young athletes with predetermined destinies.

Oden's current role in college basketball represents something meaningful—a second act centered on growth rather than glory. He's reportedly embraced mentoring younger players, sharing hard-earned wisdom about both basketball and life. In many ways, this might be where he makes his most significant impact on the sport. The dramatic arc from can't-miss prospect to what-could-have-been story to grounded mentor isn't the narrative anyone would have scripted, but it's authentically human. As I look at today's NBA draft prospects, I find myself tempering my predictions, remembering Greg Oden and the countless variables that determine an athlete's journey. Some first picks become legends, others become cautionary tales, and a few, like Oden, become something more complicated—and perhaps more interesting.