NBA Draft ‘08 Players To Watch: O.J. Mayo
O.J. Mayo*Reprinted from Dime #42, on sale now*
After championships are won and lost, the NBA, college and high school basketball lays its foundation in the summer months. With the draft, the AAU circuit and summer camps giving rise to new stars replacing the old — plus the world’s most-watched basketball tournament getting underway in Beijing — we give you this summer’s Players 2 Watch, this week focusing on the NBA Draft…
O.J. Mayo has never it had easy. He’s never been able to just play ball; there’s always been some controversy, some drama, some parade of people trying to get a piece of the kid who’s been marked for basketball stardom since elementary school.
After making it through high school bent but not broken, O.J. averaged 20.7 points in his freshman year at USC, which was still considered a disappointment to those who have been subjected to O.J. hype for years and expected him to step right in and deliver a national championship. To no one’s surprise, Mayo declared for the NBA Draft soon after USC’s first-round NCAA Tournament exit, and at press time was expected to be a Top-5 pick.
It seemed the hard part was over. And then, an ESPN investigative report came to light about O.J.’s dealings with runners for sports agencies and possibly receiving cash and gifts while at USC. It cast yet another negative light on a player who’s name has been continually associated with more negative than positive in his short career, and potentially laying the groundwork for a pro career that will never be as simple as he’d like it to be.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am
hahns says:
double standard? beasley is gets no love at the number 2 spot despite being the best player in the country yet mayo’s stock is rising.
both have/had character questions…why are beasley’s problems getting so much more play than mayo’s?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:49 am
DaPro says:
It’s simple hahns, I think GM’s picking after the Bulls put this out there hoping B’easy slips a spot or two(won’t happen) because he has “maturity issues” but he’s a kid. Reminds of Shaq minus the ass tasting from a personality stand point. Have fun kid, never lose sight of that.
From what I read, he never did anything serious to anyone. Amare had similar character issues as well but his issues were less with maturity and more about personality.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Mooks says:
Hey Dime web dudes, your RSS feed is busted. Error in your XML file. Been like this all week.
Any plans to fix that shizz?
June 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Kobeef says:
I really think Mayo will go at 3 to the Wolves. It makes up for trading Brandon Roy because Mayo could be a better version of Roy and then the Wolves get to say they got Foye (the guy they wanted) and a great SG in Mayo.
I think Mayo will be something like Jamal Crawford in the pro’s with his great ball handling and shooting in an athletic 6′5 frame.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
Kobeef, OJ’s got potential, but I got Brandon Roy top 10 in the league. OJ may get there, but he won’t be better than Roy. He doesn’t do anything Brandon does and isn’t as versatile (and that’s not a knock on him at all. I think he’ll be a really good pro.)
also, the Crawford comparison misses one key point – defense. OJ should be a really good defender. Jamal isn’t a fan
June 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
*meant to say OJ doesn’t do anything Brandon can’t do and Roy’s MUCH better at playing point when necessary (that’s one thing I don’t see. If you try to make OJ a point, it seems like it’s wasting his abilities and showcasing the closest thing to a weakness he has.)
also, all the supposed attitude ?s w/ OJ were proven completely false (besides the $$$ thing, which we’d all at least be tempted by and won’t be an issue when he’s allowed to be paid next year) Tim Floyd, who’s coached a long time, called him, “the most coachable player I’ve ever had.”
June 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
dana says:
olol..this guy,does he still hook up with those tall beauties on the tall dating site ____Tallmingle.com____ ???The last time I saw his profile is last monday, hope he does not leave.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Cats kill me with the character issues nonsense unless he killed/raped someone or sold mega tons of dope. No NBA team is going to pass on him You know how many college kids take money from runners shit you taking out 60% of the NBA if you based your decision on that.
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down!!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
doc says:
He gonna be a problem.