The NBA All-Star Game unveiled a new format this year in which the top two players in votes received are captains and got to choose teams. While the draft took place behind closed doors to prevent fans from knowing the order in which players were selected, reporters learned that team captain LeBron James made Kevin Durant his first overall pick.
In an interview after his Warriors beat the Timberwolves on Thursday, Durant joked about “finally” being pick No. 1.
"Well, finally someone picked me number one. That feels pretty good. It's going to be fun competing against Steph, Klay and Draymond." – @KDTrey5 on being selected first for #TeamLeBron and going up against @warriors teammates
?: @ROSGO21 pic.twitter.com/jrPNz7iUb8
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 26, 2018
Of course, K.D. was referencing how he was the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. That year, the Trail Blazers infamously selected former Ohio State star Greg Oden instead of Durant. But we have to give the Blazers credit, because they’re owning it.
Our bad. https://t.co/6unnr17EP5
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 26, 2018
That’s fantastic. Oden appeared in just 82 total games with the Blazers from 2007-2012 because of a chronic foot issue. He spent some time with the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 season, but he has not played in the NBA since.
To his credit, Oden has admitted that his NBA career was a disappointment and opened up about his struggles with addiction.
