Greg Oden’s mistake just his latest flop

Greg Oden.

Christ, man, what were you thinking?

As if your career weren’t a joke already, you decide it’s a good idea to whip out your cell phone — and your penis — and take pictures of yourself naked in front of a mirror.

And if that weren’t bad enough, the idea of sending these pictures to someone fell into the “plausible ideas” section of your brain.

I know you look older than a caveman’s uncle, but you’re in the NBA. And for every chick that wants a naked picture of you, there are probably a hundred more right outside the player’s entrance, 82 times a year.

But I should’ve seen it coming.

Remember the hype in November 2006, when you and the up-and-coming Ohio State Buckeyes came to Chapel Hill?

An injured wrist kept you sidelined and in street clothes — and left thousands of college basketball fans wondering what might have become of a 98-89 Tar Heel victory had you been on the court.

Of course, you guys rebounded nicely, finishing the regular season 27-3 and making a run to the NCAA championship game.

Your team lost to Florida but your potential was as obvious as the length of your groin ferret.

You scored 25 points, grabbed 12 boards and blocked four shots, against eventual NBA all-star Al Horford and fellow first-round pick Joakim Noah.

It’s just too bad that was the pinnacle of your career, especially for the Portland Trail Blazers.

They drafted you No. 1 the following June, and, for the second time in the franchise’s history, they selected a bust.

First, it was Sam Bowie over future NBA Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, John Stockton and, oh yeah, Michael Jordan in 1984.

Twenty years later, they gambled again, and again came up empty.

In fairness, it’s tough to lay all the blame on you, Greg. Injuries have befallen many of the game’s potential greats.

But, fresh off your 22nd birthday, it’s obvious that it would take a comeback as improbable as your downfall to resurrect your career.

In three years in the NBA, you’ve played 82 games. Your averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game don’t seem worth the $12.5 million price tag.

Especially when you consider that Kevin Durant, whom Oklahoma City took  with the second pick, has given his team 24.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game — and zero PR nightmares.

You’ve made the Blazers a laughingstock while the Thunder are laughing all the way to the bank.

History would suggest the future doesn’t bode well for their investment. Bowie averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in a career that never saw him play a full season.

Meanwhile, Jordan was a 14-time all-star, won five MVP awards and six NBA championships — one of the greatest careers in the history of sports.

The parallels between you and Durant are eerily similar.

I’m not sure if you can do anything to stop it, but keeping it in your pants is a nice place to start.

Contact the Brandon Staton at bkstaton@email.unc.edu.