O.J. Mayo

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Lore & Background

Mayo's time in Memphis began with high expectations after being selected third overall. He quickly proved his worth, finishing as the runner-up for the 2008–09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award behind Derrick Rose. His scoring ability shone early; on November 1, 2009, he recorded a career-high 40 points against the Denver Nuggets, shooting 17 of 25 from the field. However, his tenure faced turbulence. On a return flight from Los Angeles to Memphis in January 2011, he was involved in a fight with teammate Tony Allen over a debt from an in-flight card game, which led to him being removed from the starting lineup in January 2011. Further complications arose on January 27, 2011, when the NBA suspended him for 10 games following a positive test for the steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mayo blamed an over-the-counter supplement he claimed contained the banned substance but refused to name it. Despite these challenges, he remained a fixture in the rotation, though his role shifted significantly as the season progressed.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of O.J. Mayo's Grizzlies career was defined by both brilliance and controversy. Arriving as part of a blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Love to Minnesota, Mayo initially dazzled fans with his scoring prowess. His 40-point explosion against Denver in 2009 stands as a testament to his offensive ceiling. Yet, off-court issues began to mount. The altercation with Tony Allen over a card game debt highlighted growing friction within the locker room. Subsequently, the suspension for DHEA use forced him to miss significant time and damaged his reputation. By the 2011–12 season, his role had diminished; he played all 66 games but started none, embracing the sixth-man role with a candid admission: "I would say so [it hurt his value]. What do you think?" This period marked a turning point where his potential seemed to plateau amidst internal and external pressures, eventually leading to his departure as an unrestricted free agent in 2012.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking O.J. Mayo's journey with the Grizzlies, several key moments define his legacy. He entered the league via the 2008 Draft, traded to Memphis on June 26 alongside Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner in exchange for Kevin Love and others. His rookie year saw him named the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. A pivotal scoring night occurred on November 1, 2009, with a career-high 40 points against Denver. However, his time was marred by a suspension starting January 27 for a positive DHEA test and an in-flight fight with Tony Allen that cost him his starting spot from November 20, 2010 onward. In the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, he played every game (66) but started zero, effectively serving as a reserve. He left Memphis after the 2011–12 season when the team declined to sign a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent who signed with Dallas on July 19.

Did You Know?

• Mayo was suspended for three games by his high school after being involved in a fight during a game.
• He scored 41 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists in a Class AAA state championship game in West Virginia.
• Mayo played pickup games at the UCLA gym against NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett before his rookie season.
• He scored a career-high of 40 points twice: once with Memphis on November 1, 2009, and again with Dallas on December 8, 2012.
• In the shortened 2011–12 season, Mayo played 64 games for the Grizzlies but started in none of them.