August 06, 2007 @ 1:39 pm

Greg Oden: The First Pick

Chris Yuscavage

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A center of power. From our September 2007 Juice list.

Just one year removed from high school, we already admire Greg Oden as much for his maturity off the court as we do for his skills on it. "I want to make enough money to change the world for the better," says the 7'0", 245 lb. center who was chosen first in June's NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. And the funds are on their way: He's signed a deal with Topps Trading Card Co. for $3 million, and another with Nike for an estimated $12 million. A strong shot-blocker and individual defender, Oden, who led the Ohio State University Buckeyes to the NCAA National Championship last April, is the most anticipated NBA player since LeBron James. "I'm looking forward to going up against the best competition in the world next season," says Oden. "That's my first challenge." NAME: Greg Oden
BIRTHDAY/AGE: 19
BORN : Buffalo, NY
RESIDES: Portland, OR
SOMETHING I DO EVERY DAY FOR SANITY:
"To keep my sanity? Eat! I got to have about four meals a day or else I'll probably die if I don't... Meat. I got to have some meat! Every meal I have to have some meat." PLACE WHERE I'M MOST PRODUCTIVE:
"Me? It's probably when I watch TV. The things I see on TV are the things that inspire me to go out and work harder to be able to accomplish and do things. If I see a Foundation or something on TV, I know that when I go out and I work hard that I make enough money to start my own and be able to help some little kids or something like that. Just things that I witness and that push me to better myself on the court and entertain and make money to be able to help and change the world if I can." FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING:
" Ohio State sweats. You would think I'm the dirtiest man ever. I've been wearing them for all of this week. I usually wear them like twice a week. [I've had them] since the beginning of the season." MOST FRUSTRATING MOMENT:
"I would say, I kind of didn't show it, but earlier this year my best friend died and it was really hard on me. He died when we played Michigan State at the beginning of the season. So it was definitely really hard on me. His name was Travis Smith." PERSON I ADMIRE MOST:
"My mother. She worked really hard and when we were younger we didn't have a lot and she used to work two jobs just to barely pay rent. And when I saw her working like that, things clicked in my head and I said I didn't ever want her to work and do that ever again." 5 YEARS AGO, MY GOAL WAS...:
"Five years ago, my goal was to hit a layup in a basketball game. [laughs] I was horrible. I was very horrible. Eighth grade was my breakout year. But before then, I don't even know what I did with my life. I was just a big, tall, goofy dude." 5 YEARS FROM NOW, MY GOAL IS...: "Five years from now, my goal is to be an NBA All-Star and be playing for an NBA Championship." BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING OUR GENERATION:
"The ozone layer. That's something I like to be thinking about and to get involved in. With all the global warming stuff and all the gas and the oils and stuff like that, that's a big issue." FAVORITE BOOK, AND WHY:
"I'm not... I hate to say it but I'm going to tell you this. I'm not a big reader. If I read a book, I read two pages and the third page I'm already asleep." FAVORITE MOVIE, AND WHY:
"I love Stomp the Yard! The dancing! I be in there trying to kill it... I'm good. I can do half of that stuff that they do in the movie." FIVE SONGS I WILL LISTEN TO BEFORE MY FIRST NBA GAME:
"They're going to be Will Smith songs! No, but probably a Lil' Jon song. You never know, but I would say '2 Step (Remix),' by Unk, 'Bartender,' by T-Pain, 'Last Call,' by Lil' Jon, 'Umbrella,' by Rihanna and 'It's All Good,' by Will Smith."

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