O.J. Mayo Is Laying the Foundation to Be the Rookie Of the Year
O.J.For the first time in O.J. Mayo’s well-documented career, he’s being slept on. After years of shine, in which he was called the “next LeBron” from the eighth grade on, and was featured on ESPN as one of the super-freshmen during his one and only college season at USC, things have changed for Mayo. NBA analysts have killed the Grizzlies over the summer for trading Mike Miller and the fifth pick (Kevin Love) to grab O.J. at three. At 6-4, he’s been given the ominous “tweener” label – is he too selfish to play the point? Is he big enough to get his shot off at the two?
I think it’s a dangerous recipe. After being told how wonderful he was for years, O.J. seems like the kind of kid who can channel this negativity into fuel. Though everyone has their own take on his infamous battle with Lance Stephenson at ABCD camp a few years back, there’s no doubt that the smack elevated his game.
Even though training camp doesn’t start until tomorrow in Memphis, there are early signs that O.J. has already elevated his game.
“I really, really like him,” said Marc Iavaroni. “Rookies are rookies but this guy doesn’t behave like a rookie, he hasn’t played like a rookie and as strong as his tangibles are, I think his intangibles are stronger. I’m talking about an unwillingness to accept losing, playing with a chip on his shoulder, trying to play good defense and being a leader out there. I just told him ‘You look good on tape. You look a lot better in person.’”
In fact, when we got up with Rudy Gay at his spot in suburban Baltimore for the next installment of Dime Fashion, he talked about O.J. Mayo as if the rookie was already a proven leader on the Grizzlies. That’s not just because O.J. looks like a 35-year old professor when he puts his glasses on. It’s because he’s probably the second-most capable scorer on the roster right now behind Rudy.
Count Iavaroni and Gay as being in Mayo’s corner. But the more that others question his ability to succeed in this league, the more dangerous he’ll become.
Source: Memphis Commercial-Appeal
September 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Michorizo says:
O.J. is being slept on because he had an ok start for USC. Check out his stats from the second half of the season compared to beginning and the guy got better and better. Mayo will be a Star in the league and he has the work ethic to do it!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:31 am
webbie352 says:
i wanted miami to take him at the #2
yea i know im a dreamer.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
SteveNash says:
hehe… i’ll give you love, you give me mayo… greatest draft day trade of all time
September 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am
SteveNash says:
mayo shoots, gay gets a hold of it… hehe
September 29th, 2008 at 10:55 am
isotope says:
As good as Mayo is going to be the Griz should have gotten more. Especially for Mike Miller. Mike can put points up in a hurry and Love might be decent. But Mayo is still the best player of the three.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Brown says:
@ isotope
Miller’s a free agent after this season and would have bolted from Memphis. Minnesota will likely trade him before season’s end anyways.
To get Mayo for a “maybe decent” Love and impending free agent Miller is a HUGE steal for Memphis. Minnesota will regret this trade for years, just like the Brandon Roy for Randy Foye deal from a couple years ago. Kevin McHale should be nominated for the “Worst GM in Professional Sports History” award. How do you keep a job after that many screw-ups?!
September 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Blue says:
is it just me or does mayo seem like a cocky SOB? i’m not sayin’ he can’t back it up, but i’m just thinking that analysts and such might be thinking that his bark is bigger than his bite…ya know
September 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
shake&bake says:
I don’t think Mayo will have a problem getting his shot off as a 2 because he has good elevation on his jumper and he is strong to give a push-off and create space. I’m predicting 16 ppg’s as a rookie.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:54 am
shake&bake says:
My bad, I meant to put 19 ppg, not 16.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Brian McCormick says:
No sleeping here. I said he should be the #1 pick for many of the same reasons that Ivaroni articulates in your article:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/815217/rethinking_the_nba_draft.html?cat=14
September 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
mellamoernest says:
Shoulda stuck with 16
September 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
jimmhumm says:
@ nash that gay joke was lame.
O.J. Mayo reppin Huntington, WV baby the hope is alive again!!!
September 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
jimmhumm says:
Even if mayo isn’t a great player he will sell more tickets than Love or Miller which the Grizz need desperatly. There are usually more people at the Pyramid in Egypt than in the one in Memphis. McHale already has a tweener in Minni. He has an Establish stud down low and only needed a shooter to balance his offense. They gonna suck but he’s not too dumb.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
dapro says:
OJ will put up numbers without question. I like his game but the ROY race will be much tighter than people think
Predictions-
B’Easy 17pts 7reb 2ast .7 blks .3 stls 46% fgp
DRose 14 pts 5rebs 7ast .3blks 1.3 stls 45%fgp
Oj Mayo 18pts 4rebs 4ast .4blks 1.0stls 43%fgp
September 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Blue says:
@ dapro…
damn, that’s some precise calculations!!
you missed oden though!!
September 29th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
dapro says:
@ Blue
You right, I think Oden will have a huge impact on both ends of the floor
13 pts 13rebs 3 blks .3 stls 53%fgp
Team edges out Denver for 7-8 playoff spot
September 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
BALLZ says:
Nickname for the new Griz combo of Mayo and Gay:
GAYO.
Let’s make it happen Dime Readers.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Desrat says:
@dapro,
You got it going on. Save this page, if you are anywhere close use it on your resume to Dime.
Who wins then?
September 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Uhmm I’m pretty sure you gusys left something out of the title it should read: “OJ Mayo is Laying the Foundation to be Rookie of the Year Runner-up”
September 29th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Grizz Tim says:
Just to clear up a few things I saw on the posts:
Mike Miller has two years left on his contract not one. He is also a very solid player but his health has been a major concern and his knees are going to give out very shortly. I hope the best for him b/c he is a great person but he was not in the grizzlies long term plans.
Also @ jimmhumm the major reason I would see that we cant fill seats in the Pyramid is its been closed for 4 years and the Grizzlies now play in the state of the art FedEx Forum which is a great stadium. However i get your point and we do need to fill more sits b/c we are struggling to get fans to support the team but now that Pau is gone we should be able to draw more support.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:19 am
karizmatic says:
I think Mayo is gonna be really good. I think he’s the one who is going to shine out of this draft. But we’ll see time will tell. He’s the one I’ve got my eye on though. I’m not sold on Rose or Beasley at all particularly if the Heat insist on playing Beasley at the four.