Former No. 1 pick Greg Oden now a student coach at Ohio State
The 7-0 center says his basketball playing career is over after just 105 games in the NBA
By
Gary Parrish
•
1 min read
Greg Oden is now the most famous 28-year-old college sophomore in the country.
And finished with playing basketball.
And a student coach at Ohio State.
"I wouldn't say I regret anything," Oden told the Indianapolis Star this week. "I just wish I did things better."
Oden was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2006 who led Ohio State to the title game of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. The 7-foot center had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the 84-75 loss while battling with a Florida frontline that included Al Horford and Joakim Noah. He subsequently declared for the 2007 NBA Draft and was selected first overall -- one spot ahead of Kevin Durant. But Oden had microfracture surgery on his right knee in September before his rookie year, missed the entire season and was never the same again.
He had another microfracture surgery in 2009.
Then another in 2012.
His entire NBA career consists of just 105 games.
Oden averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per contest.
Apparently resigned to his unfortunate fate, Oden told the Indianapolis Star he has given up on a possible basketball comeback. He, like former high school and college teammate Mike Conley, became a father earlier this year. Conley is now in the first season of a $153 million contract he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in July. Oden is majoring in sports industry and spending his free time volunteering on the Ohio State coaching staff.
"I wanted to stay around basketball, and coach [Thad Matta] gave me a lifeline to be here ... to give me something to do with my afternoons," Oden told the Indianapolis Star. "I'm still trying to figure out my life. Since I've been in fourth grade, all I've known was basketball. I'm just trying to better myself and work on my degree and set something up for the future of my family."
