Durant vs Oden
By bingja18
@bingja18 (30)
United States
June 27, 2007 2:51pm CST
Can anyone seriously say that Kevin Durant is going to be great in the NBA? Don't get me wrong, Durant is the best freshman to ever play college basketball in my opinion, the only problem is his body is not ready for the league strengh wise. In Durant's individual workouts he has been unable to bench press 185 a single time. Are you kidding me?! I am a 5'9 senior in college who hasn't played any sort of competive sports since my senior year of high school and could put up 185 at least 8 times right now. Now, I'm not saying I'm even close to the athlete Durant is but I'm also not going to be playing against the world's best basketball players night in and night out starting in October. Durant is a great basketball talent but before he will be any sort of force in the NBA he needs to strengthen up to deal with the physicality that is NBA basketball. Greg Oden will definately be a better player, at least in the first couple of years, the Durant.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Psychosis (356)
• United States
30 Jun 07
I think that Greg Oden will have a more immediate impact, but Durant will prove to be more talented after a few years of improving his conditioning.
@Scorpio111boy (249)
• United States
9 Jul 07
I agree. And he looked pretty impressive in his first summer league game.
@thebrainchild (44)
• United States
28 Jun 07
First off all, Oden is the one who has to work on his conditioning. He was the one huffing and puffing at times throughout the NCAA season. Now on to Durant. Durant has been compared to Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant, two of the best in the biz. However, he has been praised because he is bigger than both of them were when they came into the league. They turned out to be ok players, wouldn't you say? I mean, come on, what do you expect from a freshman coming out of college. Clearly, he is one of the fittest athletes, so I think in terms of his talent, the amount he can bench is like asking how many push- ups Roger Federer can do.
@bingja18 (30)
• United States
28 Jun 07
I respectfully disagree with most of what you are saying. I agree that Oden needs to work on his conditioning based on his workouts with the blazers but getting in shape is a lot easier than adding needed muscle. Also, several great big men have always been huffers and puffers (ex. shaq). I am not saying Durant can't play because anyone that would say that is flat out stupid. I'm also not saying he won't make an impact or even be a better NBA player than Oden. I think Oden will help out his team much earlier than Durant will. 185 pounds is not a lot to bench press, let alone a single time. Durant will get pushed around in a much more physical NBA game and until he adds some muscle (which he will), Oden will be the better NBA player. Don't believe me? Ask the Portland Trailblazers who will choose Oden over Durant later tonight in the NBA Draft.
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
27 Jun 07
You know, I read that report and thought the same thing. I mean, as a senior playing football in high school, I could press 225 lbs 16 times. It wasn't a great display of strength, mind you, but it's a lot better than Mr. Durant. I am still sold on Durant being a great NBA player, don't get me wrong. But I have seen Oden a lot more on TV cause of ESPN coverage and tourney play, and I can't help but agree with the people who say that Oden looks like Patrick Ewing from Georgetown. I really think he's got the potential to be the next great center in the NBA. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either pick, but if it were upto me I would definitely go with Oden. It must suck to be the Atlanta Hawks (picking third).
@junot111 (173)
• Canada
27 Jun 07
yeah being the only player unable to bench press 185 at the camp(including guards!) is pretty lame
good luck to him in the summer i hope he bulks up or hes gonna have a hard time in the nba thats for sure
(which is why i think he should have stayed in college for 1 year, he probably would have even been the first overall pick next season not only because of improvements but also because of the overall draft potential in 08)
