LeBron James finds support in former number one overall pick Greg Oden, who is a self-admitted Michael Jordan fan.
The LeBron James versus Michael Jordan GOAT arguments are the lifeline of the NBA community. Any answer to this question can cause a riot in a barber shop. However, former NBA player Greg Oden recently revealed how King James swayed his opinion on the best player of all time conversation.
Greg Oden was the consensus number 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, going over Kevin Durant on draft boards. Oden joined Texas A&M Legend, Mr. Football Johnny Manziel, on his ‘Glory Daze’ podcast.
The two talked about Oden’s tenure with the Miami Heat in the 2013-14 season, where Oden revealed his incredible experience playing with LeBron James.
That motherf—er was a created player. I am a Michael Jordan guy… But, LeBron James on the Miami Heat is the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball.
Greg Oden told Manziel on the podcast
Greg Oden on LeBron James:
“That motherf—er was a created player. I am a Michael Jordan guy… But, LeBron James on the Miami Heat is the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball.”
(via @glorydazepod) pic.twitter.com/vvDupDvU9d
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) November 8, 2024
Although Oden is self-admittedly a Jordan fan, having grown up watching Air Jordan, even he was taken aback by James’ brilliance. Oden described James as a ‘created player’, as in a player that looked like he had been crafted for a video game. The former first overall pick especially praised James’ play with the Miami Heat.
Greg Oden spent a year alongside LeBron James when the two were on the 2013-14 Miami Heat roster together. Although the season ended with the San Antonio Spurs decimating the Heat, Oden was able to see the dominance of James firsthand. In his eyes, he describes the Miami Heat era of LeBron James as the greatest player of all time.
Greg Oden opens up on severe drug and alcohol dependence issues
Greg Oden’s interview with Mr. Football Manziel marked a major public appearance for Oden, who has been out of the public eye for many years. After being drafted with the first overall pick in 2007, Oden is most famously remembered for his disappointing career. He would be plagued by injuries throughout his NBA tenure. Ultimately, Oden retired from basketball in 2016, having played just 105 career games in nine years.
On the podcast with Manziel, Greg Oden revealed that he used to suffer from severe drug and alcohol dependence issues. He used to take those to manage the pain from his nagging foot injuries, allowing him to get some sleep before practice. Oden detailed his grueling journey in the interview.
I have a picture of my phone that I keep and I look at night. It was like Bud Light, a bottle of wine, Benadryl, Advil PMs, Tylenol PMs, my Vicodin, my Percocet. And the reason why I keep it is because I remember there was a time in Portland where I literally had to take every last one of those every night just to sleep three hours and I had to be at practice and this was my everyday.
Greg Oden recalled on the podcast
Thankfully, Greg Oden revealed that those days are way behind him. Oden was on the coaching staff of Butler’s D1 basketball team under Thad Matta recently. He presently serves as an advisor to budding athletes.
Oden did not have a favorable career, but he got to go out with a bang. Oden played his last few career games with LeBron James on the Miami Heat, seeing brilliance up front.