FOXSports.com - Ben Maller

Greg Oden's welcome-to-Portland moment came at 10,000 feet Wednesday, when the man sitting next to him on an airplane opened his window shade. "He opened it up and I saw a mountain with snow on it," Oden said at Portland International Airport, referring to a view of Mount Hood. "I've never seen that, until now." Oden, one of the most sought-after college players to enter the NBA draft, stands a good chance at seeing more of Mount Hood if the Blazers do what many expect: Select the 7-footer with the first overall pick in the June 28 draft. It had been less than 24 hours since the Blazers, and Oden, learned that Portland won the draft lottery for the right to pick first; but already, Oden found himself in Portland on Wednesday. Long before the draft lottery results were announced Tuesday, Oden had agreed to fly to Portland to spend two days meeting with Nike representatives about a possible shoe contract. Jim Gatto of Adidas said his company also plans to meet with Oden at a later date. Oden, wearing long denim shorts, a striped shirt and a Nike knapsack, said the coincidence of his Portland visit the day after the Blazers won the lottery hadn't struck him yet, even as people at the airport snapped photos of him with their cell phones. One man went as far as to shout "Greg, you are in the right place!"

Man Oden's gonna be a beast!