Greg Oden Suited Up For Ohio State’s Team In ‘The Basketball Tournament’

One cool thing about The Basketball Tournament is that, every now and then, players that any hoops fans can recognize will pop up. For example, in 2018, Jimmer Fredette has his own team, while the squad of Syracuse alumni that has become a fixture during the event features names like Hakim Warrick.

While there are plenty of other ex-NBA players on the myriad of rosters, few are bigger (both figuratively and literally) than Greg Oden. The former No. 1 overall pick plays for Scarlet & Gray, a squad full of former Ohio State hoopers like Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft.

Now 30, Oden made his debut in The Basketball Tournament on Friday night, suiting up for Scarlet & Gray in their Super 16 win over Primetime Players. It was the first time in more than two years Oden took the floor in a competitive basketball game, as he last played for the Jiangsu Dragons in the Chinese Basketball Association in early 2016.

Oden had 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting with five rebounds in 16 minutes of action. After Scarlet & Gray picked up its 72-60 win, Oden was tasked with moving the team on in TBT’s bracket, much to the delight of Blazers guard and fellow Buckeye Evan Turner.

Next up, Oden and the rest of his Ohio State brethren will take on Fredette’s squad on Sunday with a spot in the semifinals in Atlanta on the line. In addition to the former National Player of the Year, Team Fredette includes former Sixers and Nets center Brandon Davies and Jack Cooley, who suited up for the Sacramento Kings in seven games last season.