Oden pleads guilty to battery in deal with prosecutors

Greg Oden, who was accused last summer of punching his former girlfriend in the face, has reached a plea agreement with Marion County (Ind.) prosecutors, according to court documents.

The former Portland Trail Blazers No. 1 overall NBA draft pick was arrested in August after police said an altercation took place in his mother's Lawrence home between Oden and his 24-year-old former girlfriend.

Oden was subsequently charged with two felony battery counts and two misdemeanor battery counts. In December 2014, court documents state Oden pleaded guilty to battery with moderate bodily injury, a felony, while the other three charges were dismissed.

At sentencing, Oden was fined $200 and ordered to complete 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling, alcoholics anonymous classes and 909 days of probation, court documents state. A no contact order was also put into place.

Oden's attorney was not immediately available for comment.

When investigators initially questioned Oden, police said he was "calm, apologetic and cooperative."

"I was wrong, and I know what has to happen," Oden told police, according to a Lawrence Police Department report.

After one year at Ohio State, Oden entered the NBA Draft and was the No. 1 overall selection by Portland, one pick ahead of NBA superstar Kevin Durant. Oden missed his entire rookie season following microfracture surgery on his right knee as missed time would soon become the theme of Oden's pro career. He managed to play 82 games over two years with the Blazers before missing three entire seasons to ongoing knee ailments (2011-13).

Oden made a comeback last season, signing a free agent deal with the Miami Heat. The reserve big man played just 23 times for the Heat, though he started six games.

In three total seasons, Oden averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in his career.

Adams also writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett property.