Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Greg Oden Rookie Card Hype - A Reflection

Remember Greg Oden's much anticipated rookie year? And then after his injury, the anticipation for his first year on the NBA court? I do.


Oden was top overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. After missing his rookie year due to injury, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to capture some of his rookie cards. I even had an article on the Cardboard Connection about it. D'Oh!

The sponsor of Oden's basketball-reference page asks if he is the next Sam Bowie? Seems like a good question today.


Oden's stats in the 2008/2009 season:
39 starts, 8.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and .5 assists per game.

Kevin Durant was the #2 pick in 2007 NBA draft. His 2008/2009 season stats:
74 starts, 25.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game. Durant also averages more than 1 steal per game.

But that was Durant's second full season and Oden's first. How does Durant's rookie year compare to Oden's (stats above) first year?

Durant stats in the 2007/2008 season:
80 starts, 20.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game. He also averaged 1 steal per game.

My other brilliant card collection ideas:
  • Ryan Leaf rookie cards
  • Brien Taylor rookie cards
  • Lastings Millege rookie cards

3 comments:

stusigpi said...

This is why I don't "prospect". Sometimes the prospector unknowingly buys in at the top of the market. Oden rookies were never cheap that I saw.

James said...

I totally agree. I really enjoy the older cards or at least guys who have done something in the league... I was burned too many times on Alex Escobar and JD Drew!

Anonymous said...

I got burned on like every card on this list 80s rookie cards