Alcohol abuse reportedly was a concern last season with free agent Greg Oden while he played for the Miami Heat. Oden, who's had a history of drinking, was arrested in August on felony battery charges and appears to be finished in the NBA.
Oden purportedly struggled with alcohol while being sidelined with multiple knee injuries in the past, and the struggles apparently continued last season in Miami. Michael Wallace of ESPN reported alcohol was an issue with Oden, who was standoffish with his teammates and would often be seen at bars.
Per Wallace:
"Privately, his battle with personal demons still raged, according to multiple sources. Alcohol abuse remained a concern last season as he sat out many games because of soreness in his knees and back. When he was left in Miami during road trip early in the season, he often was spotted at local sports bars and restaurants, including a Hooters across the street from AmericanAirlines Arena, to watch the games.
"He didn't hang out with many teammates when he did travel, choosing instead to venture out alone or with friends outside of the team. But multiple members of the Heat said he stayed even-keeled throughout the season, which one player said was better than many expected considering his trying situation."
Oden made a minimal impact in Miami last season, playing in only 23 games and averaging 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in just over nine minutes per game.
Although he's currently a free agent, finding a job isn't his biggest concern. Police in Indiana arrested Oden in August on felony battery charges after he punched his ex-girlfriend in the face, something he admitted to while being taken into custody.
"Things got out of control and I started to go after [the victim]. My mother and [the victim's friend] tried to hold me back but I swung my arms to move them out of the way and then punched [the victim] in the face," Oden told the officers, according to the police report obtained by ESPN. "I was wrong and I know what has to happen."
The trial date for Oden is set for Nov. 19. If a team were to sign the injury-plagued center, the NBA would likely issue him a lengthy suspension for the domestic violence incident.
