Speaking on 'The OGs' show, former NBA big man Greg Oden detailed his stint on the Miami Heat playing alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. According to Oden, the experience was unlike anything he was used to and it opened his eyes to a whole different level of playing the game.
“Being around that team, I seen a different level of basketball," said Oden. "I seen the things that LeBron James and [Dwyane Wade] would do that a fu*king 13-year-old wouldn’t even do right now.”
Greg Oden is perhaps one of the biggest "what if" stories in NBA history. He was drafted first overall in 2007 and was projected to be a future NBA superstar. Sadly, due to unrelenting knee injuries, Oden's career never took off and he only managed to squeeze out three full seasons for his entire career.
In the 2013-14 campaign, his final in the NBA, he joined the Miami Heat for one last run. With an average of 9.2 minutes played that season, Oden was not a major part of the Heat's rotation but he saw enough to make a lifelong impression.
As a teammate of LeBron's, he saw his unmatched work ethic and he saw the way that the King pulled everyone together. James averaged 27.1 points per game that season and he carried an injury-riddled roster to the 2nd seed in the East. This stretch was LeBron at his athletic prime and his speed, power, and strength were almost hard to believe at the time.
As his partner in crime, Dwyane Wade was an important part of the formula but his declining health limited what he was able to do that season. Still, despite only playing 54 games, Wade showed his value in other ways by being a steady hand and wise leader in the locker room.
Through his leadership, and his relationship with LeBron (4x champion), the Miami Heat were able to maximize their potential and reach the Finals for the fourth straight year. Sadly, they ran out of steam once they got to the final round. Waiting for them was a Spurs team at the absolute top of their game, and they easily won the series in a 4-1 rout.
That season marked the end of the LeBron James era in Miami and when he signed with the Cavaliers months later it changed the NBA hierarchy in a major way. Today, over 20 years since it started, LeBron is still going strong and is still inspiring awe in all those who witness it.
Oden hasn't seen NBA action since, but it's hard to end things better than that. While his own career may have fallen short, he was able to gain the priceless experience of playing alongside some of the game's greatest players ever, and what he learned that season is probably more than he learned in his entire NBA tenure up to that point.
As so many already know, natural improvement comes with the territory of playing with the King and his impact stretches well beyond the confines of the court. Even today, LeBron is setting a standard of excellence that every player strives to achieve and he continues to be the best example of how to maximize your career in the NBA.
Related: Dwyane Wade Marvels At LeBron James' Mental Strength To Keep Playing For Over 20 Years
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