Former No. 1 draft pick makes his feelings clear on LeBron James' greatness despite being an MJ guy: "Motherf***er was a creative player"

Former No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden, who spent time alongside LeBron James on the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 season, calls himself a "Michael Jordan guy." Despite that, while speaking on former NFL player Johnny Manziel's "Glory Daze" podcast, he said that James was the greatest player ever.

Oden, who had a front-row seat to some of James' most remarkable performances during the 2013-14 season, recalled how one particular play left him completely in awe. While the NBA's GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate largely revolves around LeBron James and Michael Jordan, Oden had some strong opinions on the matter.

Even though, early on in James' stint in Miami, narratives had been constructed questioning James' ability to perform in crunch time, Oden knows what he saw during that season.

"I saw LeBron James guard somebody with the ball in the left corner. They threw a pass at the top of the key and to the right corner and didn't even hold it. Just a quick pass. LeBron James was right there when that ball got to that other corner and I was like, 'This is the best player on the planet right now.'

"And he's actually playing defense like that. ... I played in that game where he got like 63 points. That motherf--ker was a creative player. I am a Michael Jordan guy, I swear to god, but LeBron James on the Miami Heat is the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball."

"You can't blame anyone else" - Greg Oden opens up on drug and alcohol addiction during his time in Portland before playing with LeBron James

When Greg Oden was drafted as the first pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, there was talk that he could become one of the best centers in the league. During his one year at Ohio State, Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, along with 3.3 blocks per game.

His play earned him recognition as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, as well as First-team All-Big Ten honors. Given that, and the attention he generated back in high school, many were eager to see Oden's evolution once he reached the NBA.

Heading into his rookie year, Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee, which forced him to miss his rookie year. When he returned, he wound up missing time due to a foot injury, and then several weeks due to a knee injury.

The following season, he was stretchered off the court after fracturing his left kneecap, forcing him to undergo surgery. Thanks to setbacks and further procedures, Oden finished his five-year stint with Portland having played a total of just 82 games.

As he told Johnny Manziel, behind the scenes, he was struggling with drugs and alcohol:

"I had to pass out every night. I have a picture of my phone that I keep and I look at night. It was like Bud Light, a bottle of wine, Benadryl, Advil PMs, Tylenol PMs, my Vicadin, my Percocet. ...

"I remember there was a time in Portland where I literally had to take every last one of those every night just to sleep three hours and I had to be at practice and this was my everyday. The older I got, the more I realized, this is your life. You can't blame anyone else. All you can do is be the best for you right now."

While his NBA career may not have panned out the way many expected, Oden is now living a much healthier lifestyle and was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame this year.