Can anyone tell me why Greg Oden is so highly rated over Kevin Durant???

Question

As I have seen the stats and it looks like Durant reigns supreme in most categories. ie points per game

Answer 1

Maybe you're just a fantasy basketball fan. You should know that basketball is not just about statistics.

When you're talking about a #1 Draft pick, teams are looking for the players which could potentially bring the team to a higher level. e.g. reach the playoffs and eventually contend for a title.

Oden is highly sought after because he a once in a generation big man which could turn around a franchises' fortunes.

Durant is fun to watch and yes he puts up eye popping stats, but once he's in the NBA, he'll just be one of very many talented wing players (Lebron, Kobe, Wade, Mcgrady, Anthony) on the other hand, you could just count in your hand the back to the basket players who have made an impact over the last decade.

As a concrete example, compare Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnet's stats. KG is always better than TD statistically, but who has the rings?

Answer 2

Greg Oden's presence is advantageous on either side of the court. He's still developing an inside game, but the man can play D. And if you have a 7' guy playing solid D every game, without superb offensive power, you'd take teams down because they couldn't hit contested shots. Offensively-challenged teams tend to flourish more from dunks, layups, and easy baskets close to the rim than do the teams with players that can pull up just about any time (Kobe, McGrady, Bron, Zero,). Oden's strength, height, and length will make him effective to ANY team in this category. If if he plays a limited role rookie year, Oden will at least be helpful to any team on defense. Durant has offense, but no D, and it may take a while to develop his raw skill into an NBA-ready talent. Yes, he is a lights out shooter, but will he get the looks, and will he have enough minutes to get a feel for the basket? Maybe so. Maybe not. Durant contributions any team are near minimum and without guarantee, while every team in the league could use an active and athletic defensive threat inside. Get the picture?

Answer 3

Greg is more probable to be picked as the #1 pick because he is a Center. Centers nowadays are very rare as you can name quality centers in the NBA by using your 2 hands. Durant on the other hand is a wing man or a forward which are very abundant in the league. Although, Durant will probably be the better player of the 2; Greg is just a rare talent and will also be a good player. I would say it would be a case of the water-diamond paradox. One is more unique and rare while the other one has a lot of substitutes. Also, Greg was injured most of the NCAA season so I believe that hurt his numbers.

Answer 4

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19039744/

Oden is the next Duncan, Durant is the next Glen Rice.
Which would you like to have?
Durant could not event bench 180 in the camp, all the
stats he has, is against a weak college conference.
Wait till he plays against NBA players.
Oden as a freshman took his team to the final game
and in the final game dominated and did all he could.
Throw stats out, the year Shaq won the title he had
horrible stats, but Miami won the title because of him.
People over estimate stats, and underestimate the
impact of the player in the game.
Oden probably is as good as LeBron was at 19,
and he is a Center!!! NBA body, strong, and dominates.

Durant is way way over rated, skinny and weak. Wait till
next year you'll see. Durant may be the biggest bust of
the draft. Oden will take Portland to the finals in 3 years.

Answer 5

Kevin Durant is the superb organic expertise interior the draft...and the college pastime. yet i think of Greg Oden could be the 1st %. via fact interior the NBA communities do exactly no longer bypass up great "great adult males." As lots impression as Durant would have interior the league, Oden is a participant you may build a championship team around. i think of Durant will finally end up like Garnett (perennial all-movie star without help), and Oden will finally end up like Duncan (4 championship rings).

Answer 6

College is different from the pros. Durant scored against little boys. now he is going against grown men so there will be no forty point performances. Oden's game is better for the NBA because they don't call as much ticky tack fouls as the college game so he will be able to stay on the floor for longer. And he is taller.It does not really matter if Durant has a seven foot five wingspan because you can't shoot standing on your hands!!

Answer 7

well he really isnt...i mean durant was college basketballs player of the year as a freshman,but odens body is more developed for a big man espcially since their both going tu the nba but durant may not have tu play center in this league

Answer 8

He's a great center, something that's hard to come by, also, durant plays at a position that you don't need a lot of strength in college, but when you get to the NBA, some PF are stronger than C

Answer 9

1. He's a center. It's very hard looking for Natural Centers nowadays.
2. He's team reached the NCAA Finals (although they lost to the Gators).
3. Scouts are saying that he has a lot of potential going into the pro league... Even had comparisons with David Robinson's game... Well that's a tall order for a rookie.

Answer 10

I don't know I was asking this same question.

Durant has better PPG,APG and even stats that Center's should have " Rebounds per Game and even Blocks Per Game" Kevin Durant is the next Michael Jordan.