NBA / Nov 11, 2008 / 10:16 am
O.J. Mayo’s Ideal Comparison
When O.J. Mayo was coming out of college, NBADraft.net’s projected the volume-scoring off-guard to eventually be like Ben Gordon once he got to the League. Mayo has a reliable jump shot and has the propensity to fall in love with it. At USC that comparison might have been fitting.
But after watching Mayo light up the Nuggets for 31, and then the Suns last night for 33, who would you say is his ideal comparison?
So far this morning, we’ve kicked the following names around the office:
* Brandon Roy
* Dwyane Wade
* Joe Johnson
* Larry Hughes
* Michael Finley (circa ‘00)
Who would you say is O.J.’s ideal NBA comparison?
November 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am
keegan says:
joe johnson
November 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am
E$ says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KpIk1p_V3c
O.J. doing his thing on 2k9
November 11th, 2008 at 10:24 am
stphen a says:
FORGET THOSE SCRUBS HE REMINDS ME OF KOBE
November 11th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Saied says:
Gilbert mixed with Brandon Roy.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:33 am
justice says:
I would say Joe Johnson, with more of a killer instinct..He can slide to the pg spot like joe can and his jumper is crazy from anywhere and off the dribble..I expect 26-28ppg within 2 years from this guy when he gets a little stronger him being 6-4 doesnt matter because he can jump out the gym
November 11th, 2008 at 10:53 am
YOUNGFED says:
A Young Gilbert
November 11th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Jones says:
Finley
November 11th, 2008 at 10:55 am
YOUNGFED says:
Also those of you who voted KG as best offensive PF are Retards. lol
November 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Max says:
mix of Roy and Johnson — he may end up being a better, more athletic scorer than either, but his passing when he’s pressured (or when the defense is keying on him) needs a lot of work. Just like Gordon.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Smitty313 says:
Smaller Joe Johnson. They use to compare OJ to Kobe. I don’t see it. He’s not athletic enough to be compared to D-Wade or Kobe. If Mayo keeps this up he will win rookie of the year. It’s early but Derrick Rose got only by a little bit. Beasly is a little dissapointing so far. His numbers are ok he just reminds me of Tim Duncan, boring.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am
blah says:
Johnson is prolly perfect. Maybe finley. No one else on your list fits.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
chaos says:
arenas with some joe johnson. when get gets stronger he will be more multifaceted like brandon rot or johnson.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:19 am
original2k9 says:
Finley 2000
November 11th, 2008 at 11:20 am
andrew says:
i say he’s and up and coming gilbert arenas type. he doesn’t pass well enough to be compared to guys like joe, wade, and roy, but he can flat out stroke the rock!
November 11th, 2008 at 11:22 am
FluffyG says:
A mix of a 01 Mcgrady and Dwade maybe?
November 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Of the players Dime mentions he is the most similar to Larry Hughes when Larry was in his prime. I would also throw in a younger Steve Francis or Gilbert Arenas.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Danny D says:
He doesn’t have the athleticism of Wade or TMac.
I think Roy’s a good one because of his vision as a two-guard. But that stroke is so nice; I was thinking Ray Allen watching him shoot last night.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
doc says:
He remind me of OJ Mayo,and he far from a bust like some of u cats predicted.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Junio says:
He cleaned 42″ on his vert before the draft…I think he’s athletic enough.
Wade less offense, more defense.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
ERIC says:
Well if you are talking about comparison, the size and skill level should be taken into account. I see him as a DWADE type player. Short two-guards with great skills who will be better NBA players than college players.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am
dboy says:
Junio, 42in vert does mean he is athletic but he does not have an quick/explosive first step, he does not have great lateral quickness and does not have great speed with the ball and end to end quickness that is also part of the definition of being athletic. Wade is not a good comparison, yes he can jump like wade but he’s doesnt have wade’s first step and quickness off the dribble.
I think he will eventually be a quicker more “athletic” version of Billups.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am
ERIC says:
Ben Gordon doesnt have the skills that Mayo does
November 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
dboy says:
he will be more of a true combo guard,
joe dumars (bout the same size)
terry porter (bout the same size)
November 11th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
justice says:
Doc is right
i think he is as fast as those guys though but not as quick, with OJ i just think it’s a mentality thing, not that he can’t do it but he just doesn’t have the mindset like a kobe or d-wade he doesn’t attack the rim as aggressively d-wade did that coming in but kobe not so much, but guaranteed when he gets stronger he will be looking to youtube cats every play
November 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
justice says:
This guy is a shooter then a slasher, d-wade is a slasher period.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Wake says:
A Bizarro version of Larry Hughes. Which means he’s Larry Hughes, only good.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
cattso says:
mamba. he’s the next “one”, few years to go though.. but i think his mentality is very mamba like and once he polishes his game, defensively and becomes more disciplined then he’ll the comparisons will come through. hopefully he has the same work ethic and keeps it.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Kudabeen says:
Mitch Richmond
He is the best guy I can think of. Not crazy athletic, but can get above the rim. He was your favorite players favorite player…He had the ridiculous stroke and had the ability to put the ball on the floor create as well as give the effort on the defensive end…Not MJ or Kobe, but just a rung below all-time great talent…
November 11th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Kudabeen says:
Many wouldn’t know or care to know Mitch, but he was really the 2nd best 2 guard in the league behind Jordan for a a decent stretch in the L. He was a great player…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbtn4B5GH-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuXs8KMFJ58&feature=related
November 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Kudabeen says:
Yeah I think this is a done deal. Mitch Richmond is the best possible comparison…
November 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
kobeef says:
in terms of build and skill he is very close to larry hughes - but with a much better shot. he plays d like hughes
November 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
JDigiac says:
T-Mac
November 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
dboy says:
when comparing we can look further back to the 80’s and 90’s b/c mayo’s game has that in him
November 11th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
dboy says:
Richmond is a good comparison. But Mayo does not have his size and body frame. When mMtch first came in he was 6′5′ legit and 225. He played SF in Run TMC, he was a slasher and a legit post up player. He developed his jumper and lost some weight playing for Nellie b/c he told him to get quicker and more athletic in that system. He became more of a two as he got older and his jumper/range improved but he never had a great handle and never can really score off the dribble like MJ. He came off of screens, slashed some, posted, got out in transition. I think Mayo has a better handle, has better court vision hence will be a better passer and can/willing to create for others. Mitch was a 2/3 period
Mayo will be a true combo guard hence the comparisons to Billups, Dumars and Terry Porter.
Yes he has the same body type as Larry Hughes (skinny) but Larry is not as strong, Larry is a little longer.
and Mayo right now has a better jumper than Larry. Larry came in as a slasher, he developed his jumper and with all his injuries and age he has become a jump shooter now
November 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Kudabeen says:
I hear you Dboy, but a 6′5 225 3 is not the game today…Mayo a supposed 6′4 205 is not a little dude. I will agree that Mitch wasn’t a PG at all, but he did have the ability to handle the rock and dish on the drive. Mayo still has yet to show the ability to go into to setup mode. Both guys generate offense for their teammates by being aggressive offensively.
I just think if we compare him to anyone Mitch is the best pick. Also he came in the league with a better than average J although he did add better movement without the ball to get his shots. I loved Mitch’s game growing up. They even have the same demeanor on the court.
I don’t see the Larry Hughes pick at all. Mayo is better than Hughes in almost every aspect of the game outside of the one year that hughes was menace on ball and in the passing lanes.
November 11th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
John says:
Ray Allen is the perfect comparison, short shooting gaurds who rely on their jumpshot to set up there offense.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
hooper5013 says:
I think he plays a lot like Ray Allen on the offensive end Larry Hughes defensively. I think people don’t see how athletic he is because he can shoot the cover off the rock and he can get it off so easily he falls in love with it. He will mature in get to the rack more. He will be one of the special ones though, we will be comparing players to him in the coming years.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Lee says:
Crawford ??
November 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Young Lebron 23 says:
Yao? Just kiiding. He’s not better than Kobe but he has that mentality that I’m better than u u can’t stop me and I will personally f**k you up
November 11th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
OJ Mayo says:
If anyone really saw the game last night you know exactly who to compare him to. His killer instict and “NEED” for the ball when it counted was just like Kobe’s. He has the same instinct as Kobe to score and is not afraid to use his jump shot which at this point of his career is probably just as good as anyones out there. Hes also got a quick first step when he needs it and can take it strong. Just knows how to play the game thats what it comes down to.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
dboy says:
Kudabeen true. I just think at this point he is doing what is being asked of him, which is to score and shoot a lot. The coaches are trying to make it simple for him mainly b/c of the need for a second perimeter score besides Gay. So they tell him when u have the ball look to shoot it and play to your strengths with what you have now which is his jumper. To be aggressive with it.
I think as he matures gets stronger and maybe a little quicker first step and tighter handle (which should happen b/c he has a great work ethic and Tim Grover pushing him) he will go to the rack more often, be more of a combo guard. Also at this point he knows that if he goes to the rack he will not get a lot of calls from the refs b/c he’s just a rook. So why not just pull up and shoot it when it’s there, he thinks he’s got a better chance of scoring that way. The coaches will eventually put the ball in his hands even more to set everyone else up, he has the demeanor, way, look and temperment in him.
I think he also thinks he’s a combo guard.
The Ray Allen comparisons are good too. Yes Ray has some handle in him but he always had a good/decent PG’s to get him the ball so never really needed to handle it. He had Sam Cassell on the Bucks. With Mayo he doesn’t have a good Pg with him yet (sorry Conley, Lowry, don’t even bother with Javaris don’t come close to Sam I am). so the coaches will develop him into in a combo (he had the ball the whole time in the second half those guys sat and Quinton Ross on a vet min contract/cut by the clips was playing in the backcourt with him) he’s sees the floor very well and can be a willing passer, I just think he’s the next coming of Joe Dumars/Terry Porter and Billups
true combo guards. The Memphis coaches see it as well it’s only a matter of time.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Timmy D says:
I think he is a sort of hybrid of Mitch Richmond and Chauncey Billups with a little mix of pitbull. As a Grizzly fan he is already doing way better than I expected. I thought he would be solid but he plays like a 10 year NBA vet in my eyes and he’s played 8 NBA games.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
boris says:
Joe Johnson is the best comparison, with Mitch a close second - I agree he is never going to have the body to post up like Richmond could. His first step is never going to put him in Kobe/Wade shotmaking off the dribble, but he is a hard worker and thinks the game a bit like Kobe, so he’s going to do just fine. Great to see him shaking off the haterz early.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:44 am
bernie d says:
ALAN HOUSTON YOU IDIOTS!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Buh-donk-a-donk says:
the best NBA comparisons are:
DJ Mbenga
Jacque Vaughn
Adonal Foyle
Marcus Fizer
Earl Boykins
any one of those will do, suckaz!