Who Was the 2007 NBA Draft 1st Pick and Where Are They Now?

I remember sitting in a dimly lit sports bar back in 2007, the air thick with anticipation and the smell of stale beer. We were all huddled around an old television set that flickered with the NBA Draft coverage, debating who would go first. That year felt different somehow—there was this electric energy in the basketball world, like we were about to witness history in the making. Little did I know that night would mark the beginning of a story that would fascinate me for years to come: who was the 2007 NBA Draft 1st pick and where are they now?

The answer, of course, is Greg Oden. I still recall the collective gasp in that bar when David Stern announced his name. At 7 feet tall and with a wingspan that seemed to stretch forever, Oden was supposed to be the next great big man, the cornerstone of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. We all thought he'd dominate the league for a decade. But basketball, like life, rarely follows the script we write for it. Looking back now, I can't help but think about how quickly things can change in professional sports, how a single draft pick can alter the trajectory of multiple franchises and lives.

I was reminded of this recently while reading comments from coach Tiongco about his own team's struggles. He said something that really stuck with me: "Lapses lang naman lagi 'yung sa duluhan. So hopefully, 'yung mga rookies ko, mag-mature sila, makuha nila 'yung mga roles sa team namin. Kasi we are good naman as a team. Nabuo kami almost one week na lang ng league. Biglang nagdatingan 'yung mga trades. So 'yung chemistry, wala pa." That last part—"the chemistry, wala pa"—hit particularly hard. It made me think about Oden's situation in Portland, where despite all the talent, the pieces never quite fit together the way they should have.

Oden's career was plagued by injuries from the very start. He missed his entire rookie season after microfracture surgery on his right knee—a devastating blow for a number one pick. When he did play, he showed flashes of brilliance. I remember watching him put up 24 points and 15 rebounds against Miami in 2009 and thinking, "This is it, he's finally arrived." But the basketball gods can be cruel. Over his five seasons in the NBA, Oden appeared in just 105 games total. To put that in perspective, LeBron James—picked three years earlier—had already played over 600 games by the time Oden was struggling to stay on the court.

What many people don't realize is that Oden underwent three microfracture surgeries and multiple other procedures on his knees. The medical bills alone must have been astronomical—I've heard estimates ranging from $2-3 million, though that's probably conservative. The physical toll was matched only by the psychological burden. In interviews later, Oden would open up about battling depression and turning to alcohol to cope with the constant setbacks. It's a stark reminder that behind the glamour of being a top draft pick lies immense pressure that can break even the most promising athletes.

After his NBA career effectively ended in 2014, Oden's story took some interesting turns. He returned to Ohio State to complete his degree—a move I've always respected. Too many athletes leave school early and never go back. He dabbled in coaching, serving as a student manager for the Buckeyes before briefly working with the Celtics as a basketball operations intern. These days, I've heard he's involved in various business ventures and occasionally appears at basketball camps. It's not the legacy anyone envisioned for him back in 2007, but there's something admirable about how he's rebuilt his life outside the spotlight.

The 2007 draft class turned out to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory. Kevin Durant went second overall and has since become one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. Al Horford, picked third, just won a championship at 38 years old. Meanwhile, later picks like Marc Gasol (48th) and Danny Green (46th) developed into key contributors on championship teams. It's crazy to think how different things might have been if Portland had chosen differently. As a basketball fan, I've often wondered about those alternate realities—what if Oden had stayed healthy? What if the Blazers had taken Durant?

Reflecting on Tiongco's comments about team chemistry and rookie development, I'm struck by how perfectly they apply to Oden's situation. "Biglang nagdatingan 'yung mga trades," he said of his own team's challenges. For Oden, it wasn't trades but injuries that kept disrupting any chance at building chemistry or finding his role. When your body keeps betraying you, it's impossible to establish rhythm or develop within a system. Oden never got the chance to mature into the player he was supposed to become, never found his consistent role in Portland's scheme.

These days, when I see highly-touted prospects entering the draft, I think about Oden's journey. The pressure on these young athletes is immense—they're expected to transform franchises overnight. But basketball is as much about health and circumstance as it is about talent. Oden's story serves as a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of sports and the importance of supporting players beyond their on-court performance. I've come to appreciate his resilience—the way he's handled the disappointment and carved out a new path for himself.

So where is Greg Oden now? From what I've gathered, he's living a relatively quiet life out of the public eye, involved in various business interests and occasionally participating in basketball-related events. He's spoken openly about his struggles, becoming an advocate for mental health awareness in sports—a cause I wish received more attention when he was playing. While his NBA career didn't turn out the way anyone hoped, there's something compelling about his ongoing journey. The 2007 first pick may not have become the superstar we expected, but his story remains an important part of basketball history—a reminder that athletes are human beings first, and that sometimes the most valuable lessons come from unexpected places.