Kevin Durant: Greg Oden calling himself a bust is 'nonsense'
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant said it is "nonsense" for anyone to think that former center Greg Oden is the biggest bust in NBA history.
Oden declared himself just that last week in an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines."
"I'll be remembered as the biggest bust in NBA history," Oden said. "But I can't do nothing about that. Don't get me wrong. If I was healthy, I would love to continue playing, but I'm not healthy."
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Oden with the first overall pick in 2007. Durant was the second pick by the Seattle Supersonics.
Oden did not play during his rookie season after having microfracture surgery on his right knee. In 105 games during his career, Oden averaged eight points and 6.2 rebounds a game.
"Nonsense. That's nonsense," Durant said to ESPN. "In order for you to be a bust, you have to actually play and show people that you progressed as a player. He didn't get a chance to."
Durant has gone on to be a seven-time All-Star and a four-time scoring champ. He has made the All-NBA First Team five times and has won two Olympic gold medals.
"He didn't want to get hurt. That was the last thing he wanted to do was to get hurt," Durant said. "That wasn't even in the cards, and he got injured and that was unfortunate. But when he did play, he was a force. Protecting the paint. They were so good with him and LaMarcus down low, with Brandon Roy [and] Andre Miller at the time. They had a nice team. So he was a big part of that. He's not a bust. He just didn't play a long time because of injuries, and that's just what it is."
Oden last played in the NBA with Miami Heat during the 2013–14 season averaging 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 23 games. He is currently back in school at Ohio State University and is working with the basketball program.
– Scooby Axson
