LeBron James selected Kevin Durant with the No. 1 pick in the NBA All-Star Draft. Looking back at it now, the Portland Trail Blazers certainly wish they could say they picked Durant with the No. 1 pick too.
"Well, finally someone picked me number one. That feels pretty good," Durant joked after the Warriors' win over the T'Wolves on Thursday night.
"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
The Blazers just couldn't help themselves.
Our bad. https://t.co/6unnr17EP5— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 26, 2018
Sports
Instead of choosing Durant, Portland went with another freshman star in the 2007 NBA Draft. Ohio State center Greg Oden was the top pick in 2007 with Durant going next to the Seattle SuperSonics.
The rest is history.
Oden missed the entire 2007-08 season due to knee surgery, the beginning of what would be a lost career due to injuries. The 7-footer only lasted two seasons in Portland, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds over 82 games.
Meanwhile, Durant has averaged 27.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for his career while in the midst of his 11th season. Durant is a nine-time All-Star, won the 2013-14 MVP and was named 2017 Finals MVP.
Ouch.