Greg Oden: Future Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year award is given each year to the first-year NBA player who makes the biggest impact on his team. 

This year, the Rookie of the Year race is stacked with the arrivals of such sure NBA talents as Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, and O.J. Mayo. 

But the race has an interesting twist this year, as two delayed draft picks will try to steal the award away from the stars of the 2008 draft.  Portland’s Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez are two definite contenders for the Rookie of the Year award, despite missing their first year under contract in the League. 

Fernandez and Oden join a Blazers team that is undoubtedly on the rise, which will make it difficult for either player to post RoY-caliber numbers.  But if the Rookie of the Year race of 2008 is rated on the same scale as the MVP, there should be no question who the winner will be. 

Let me make this clear—barring major injury, Greg Oden will have the greatest impact on his team as a rookie since LeBron James.  I’ll give you five reasons why:

1.  History

There has not been a draft pick as hyped in this league as Oden since LeBron.  The image of Oden dunking became locker room chatter as early as his freshman year in high school.  Though Oden’s games were not televised like LeBron‘s, he shares the distinction with King James of being the only High School Junior to win the National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. 

In college, Greg Oden’s story is even more documented.  After suffering a ligament tear in his good hand, Oden was forced to use his off hand as his primary for the majority of the season.  By the time the NCAA tournament rolled around, Oden was ready to showcase his skills at a national level.  Despite losing the Championship, Oden’s 25 and 12 effort against the talented Florida Gators was evidence that this was the type of big man who only comes around once a decade. 

In the last year, Oden’s microfracture surgery has reduced some of the mystique that follows the enigmatic big man.  But make no mistake—if Oden starts dunking and blocking shots like he's capable of doing, the myth and the legend will return.  Once people see that Oden’s knee has recovered, the League will remember what a physical phenom this kid truly is.

2.  Team

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