Greg Oden was advised to retire by doctor following his last knee surgery

Greg Oden is eager for his second shot in the NBA after missing the past few seasons with bad knees and multiple surgeries. Oden was never able to play a full year during his first five seasons in the league from 2007 to 2012. After his most recent operation, the doctor performing the surgery told Oden that it would be best to call it a career, but he has ignored the doctor’s advice in order to give his NBA career one more chance. 

“After that surgery in 2012, my last surgery, the doctor said, ‘Just be a regular person, go live life. Be a regular person,'” Oden said, via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel‘s Ira Winderman.

Oden said that he initially listened to his doctor’s advice, but the itch to compete was too great and he eventually could not resist returning to the sport that he loved.

“And I did, and then two weeks later, I was stuck on NBA TV,” Oden added. “That’s just what I watch every day. I turn on TV and I’m watching NBA TV. I just wanted to play basketball. That’s my love; that’s what I wanted to do.”. “‘You would be perfectly fine walking out of this place and not have to worry about any rehab or anything.'”

Now, Oden will have an opportunity to prove that he still has the talent that earned him the honor of being the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 after signing a two-year, $2.2 million deal with the Miami Heat.

While Oden has plenty of work to do before he can shed the “bust” label, he has a real chance to rejuvenate his career with a fresh start.