NBA: Injury-plagued Oden heading to China

Greg Oden. AP

LOS ANGELES, United States—Injury-plagued former No. 1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden will try to relaunch his career in China after signing for the Jiangsu Dragons, US reports said Monday.

Oden, snapped up by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 draft, has signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million, several reports said.

The 27-year-old center has played just three seasons in the NBA after suffering a string of knee injuries which have required seven operations.

After leaving the Trail Blazers he tried to comeback in 2013 to 2014 after joining the Miami Heat, but played just 23 games after a three-year layoff.

Oden, who worked out with the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets earlier this summer, averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in 105 games during his NBA career.