"He would just do things that nobody was even thinking of" - Greg Oden recalls how good Brandon Roy was in his prime

Outside of Grant Hill and Anfernee Hardaway, nobody carries a larger "what-if" tag than former All-Star wingman Brandon Roy . A 6'6" guard who was as savvy as he was athletic, B-Roy was a superb player whom the late Kobe Bryant praised as someone who had "no weaknesses in his game."

However, Brandon's NBA stint was cut short, lasting only 326 games in six seasons, as knee problems forced the former Washington Huskie to retire at age 26. The impact of these injuries was profound, leaving fans and teammates like Greg Oden alike to wonder about the potential he could have fulfilled had he been able to continue his career.

Natural-born scorer

Some players have worked hard on their games to become elite NBA scorers. Then, some are seemingly gifted with the ability to put the ball in the basket effortlessly. B-Roy was one of those players, blessed with an innate scoring talent that made him nearly unstoppable on the hard court.

"Brandon—it was just so natural to him. That's why out there in Portland , they gave him the nickname "The Natural," man," Oden said on the "Club 520 Podcast."

The sixth-overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, Brandon hit the ground running and won Rookie of the Year honors with averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in his inaugural campaign. From there, Roy kept elevating his game and status in the league, becoming an All-Star and a member of the All-NBA teams in the next three seasons. For Oden, who joined Portland as the first-overall pick in 2007, there was nothing the suave off-guard couldn't do with a basketball.

"He would just do things that nobody was even thinking of. A lot of guys from that Seattle area got game like that—they can just score, man. They're just bucket-getters," Oden continued.

Career cut short

Brandon's injury troubles first arose in April 2010 when he suffered a slight meniscus tear in his right knee that required surgery. He returned prematurely and tried to power through his injury. Still, it was clear he wasn't ready, as he averaged only 9.6 points on 30 percent shooting.

The following season, Roy's struggles continued. He scored only 12.6 points, making only 40 percent of his field goal attempts. Following the conclusion of the 2010-2011 season, the guard announced his retirement from the NBA, citing his degenerating knee as the primary reason.

"He was such a good dude. I wish he could have played a little longer as well. He was so talented, and he carried the teams we had. It wasn't a long time, but he just did things, man," Oden gushed about B-Roy.

When healthy, Brandon was such a joy to watch. A player with smooth handles, an ability to score at all three levels, and a confidence that allowed him to take and make shots with the game on the line, Roy was on a trajectory toward all-time greatness before injuries robbed him of that opportunity.

"Sometimes I find myself going back and watching Brandon Roy's top 10 plays on YouTube. Hey man, that boy was cold. He was cold," Oden added.

There are plenty of "what-if" stories in the NBA, but for Portland fans, Roy's career will always leave them wondering what could have been. With Oden and All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge playing by his side, Portland had a core that could have made noise despite the stacked nature of the Western Conference.

Imagine if he had been able to continue his career at the same level of performance. Could they have won a championship? Could Roy have become one of the greatest players of his era? These are the questions that will forever remain unanswered.

Related: "You can't control injuries" - Coach Brandon Roy reflects on the lessons he wants his players to learn