Memphis rookie O.J. Mayo is being mentioned alongside names like Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. Find out why.
O.J. Mayo is a throw back to rookies of a previous NBA era. He would have been declared a "hardship case" back in the day when he came out of USC after completing his freshman year. But that's nothing new in this epoch; however, it's his competitiveness, work ethic and skills that remind people of the throw back rookies.
Before many Amateur Athletic Union stars were told how great they were by their entourages inspiring them to jump, unprepared, into the pro ranks, the big schools recruited and secured the best players; and many of them played well in the schools system of play. They learned the intricacies of the game and how to play, but it wasn't until a guy hit the professional game where you realized how good he really was. The big time programs were about winning and not about showcasing talent.
People knew Michael Jordan was good, but did anyone see the career he had coming? The same can be said for a guy like Patrick Ewing. These players were better in the pro game and Mayo is the same way. His game is more suited to the pro ranks.
Memphis Grizzlies' assistant coach and former head man in Toronto, Kevin O'Neill, also coached Chris Bosh in his first season as a Raptor. K.O. sees similarities between Bosh, now a three time all-star, and Mayo.
"They are both tremendously hard workers," stated O'Neill. "O.J. is a work-a-holic, Chris was a work-a-holic and both guys attack the game like men and they don't make excuses, they just do their jobs."
Everyone has heard the Mayo recruiting story of the innuendos and peripheral tales accompanying him but in spite of it all, O'Neill who has coached in both the college game and the pro game says Mayo, like Bosh, is on the right path and on his way to being an all-star.
"Both those guys (Bosh and Mayo) are high character guys, high quality skill guys and both are going to lead their teams and be the cornerstones of their teams where ever they are," concluded O'Neill in summing up his comparison of the two players.
Mayo's drive and competitiveness is also reflected in his work ethic and his willingness to take on a leadership role with a very young team. The Grizzlies are the NBA's third youngest team behind Golden State and Portland with a 2008-09 set of starters who have an average age that is younger than the 2007-08 University of Memphis Tigers.
"O.J. has emerged because of his ability and his statistics and all that," noted O'Neill. "It just shows what kind of maturity the guy has as a player and he will get on guys."
O'Neill had extensive knowledge of Mayo from their Pac-10 battles last year when he coached the Arizona Wildcats in Lute Olsen's absence in games against Mayo.
"He doesn't demand anything of anybody else he doesn't demand of himself first and he is a leader by example. That kind of stuff just shows you how competitive he is."
O'Neill, the king of the workout, loves to have a measure of a players drive, determination and mettle during the non-game sessions. He was amazed with Mayo during the summer when he worked with him in Chicago.
"I had never met him before and I said, 'Let's workout and you tell me when we're done.' For two and half hours the guy never said a word and whatever I gave him he did." laughed O'Neill.
Mayo is on pace to be the rookie of the year (he gets my vote) and as O'Neill says the first-year pro has done more for his team, even with the losing record, than any other first year player.
"He came to the league as a ready made NBA player," said O'Neill.
As an off guard Mayo is slightly undersized. Typical of the NBA, bigger players want to be smaller and little guys want to be gibber. Mayo is listed as 6-4 but is probably close to 6-2.
"It's incredible at his size he can get his shot off over any player, regardless of size."
An argument can be made for Derrick Rose as rookie of the year but unlike Michael Beasley, Rudy Fernandez, D.J. Augustin, Rose or any other rookie that is playing well, the opposition places one of the primary targets on Mayo's back every game.
(On a side note, I'm lining up to trade picks with the Minnesota Timberwolves in June as they have dealt away Brandon Roy and O.J. Mayo in two of the last three seasons.)
His NBA career is off to a good start and after watching his game in person Mayo has the whole package.
And the best is yet to come.
