OJ Mayo: What went wrong?

[The_Yearning]

Dude was arguably the best rookie in 2008. After that, he just started to slowly digress and eventually stagnated in development. I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba) what went wrong for Mayo? Is it work ethic?

[S13M]

He just wasn't that talented to begin with.

[Big Cheese]

peaked too soon. and overrated talent wise.

[Bucket_Nakedz]

people thought this dude was gonna be the next 2 guard superstar. i didn't even see all-star potential in his game. his shot is good, his defense is good, his handles are good, his intangibles are decent. but theres nothing that screams out elite in one area.

he's undersized as well. he's still young, but he needs to work on improving and being great at something

[tgan3]

Wasn't he a 6'4 Kobe? :roll:

Anyways to topic, he probably just didn't have the takeover factor. Guys like Kobe can just come in and say im going to drop 40 tonight, im going to get my team a win. Mayo just didn;t have that.

[B4llin]

Dude was arguably the best rookie in 2008. After that, he just started to slowly digress and eventually stagnated in development. I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba) what went wrong for Mayo? Is it work ethic?

I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba)


I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba)


I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba)

:biggums:

hahahahahahahahaha

[CJ Mustard]

Undersized SG with average athleticism/wingspan.

[NuggetsFan]

Anyways to topic, he probably just didn't have the takeover factor. Guys like Kobe can just come in and say im going to drop 40 tonight, im going to get my team a win. Mayo just didn;t have that.

I actually think that's the one thing he did have. He wasn't shy, wasn't his entire basketball career.

Undersized, well I guess not really but I think the 6'4 height might be generous. Doesn't have elite athletic ability. Never found him crafty enough with the ball either, solid handles but doesn't have the athletic ability/the craftiness to consistently get into the lane. Settles for jumpers. Doesn't have great play making skills. Consistency is obviously an issue as well. Still think he has potential to average 16-20 on a shitty team, or be a solid player on a good team because of his shooting/willingness to D up.

Memphis fcked his development up too. Had a really good rookie season, regressed abit his sophomore year but still showed alot of promise. Remember him lighting Denver up bad that season. 3rd year played a bench role, 26 minutes a night, same next season. It was what was best for Memphis but really hurt his career IMO. If a team would have rode out with him as the "guy" so to speak he'd look much better individually, but that team probably woulda went nowhere but the lottery. Than again looked good with Dallas but than fizzled out.

[R.I.P.]

Undersized SG with average athleticism/wingspan.

This. Although I think in a run and gun offense he could actually thrive. He

[PK3434]

Him and emeka okafor peaked during their rookie years. It's strange but it happens sometimes. I don't think it has anything to do with coaching, or work ethic, or any other reason that is given sometimes about players who didn't develop how they were projected to.

[I<3NBA]

Dude was arguably the best rookie in 2008. After that, he just started to slowly digress and eventually stagnated in development. I also remember a pretty big OJ fan base (Well two guys actually, lilojmayo and OJ 6'4 Mamba) what went wrong for Mayo? Is it work ethic?
the word you're looking for is regress. digress is when you veer off topic.

[IGOTGAME]

Him and emeka okafor peaked during their rookie years. It's strange but it happens sometimes. I don't think it has anything to do with coaching, or work ethic, or any other reason that is given sometimes about players who didn't develop how they were projected to.
Teams figure you out and then you lack the athleticism or just plain talent to adapt.

[OldSkoolball#52]

Anyways to topic, he probably just didn't have the takeover factor. Guys like Kobe can just come in and say im going to drop 40 tonight, im going to get my team a win. Mayo just didn;t have that.


:facepalm


It's sad that so many dumb fans buy this myth.


If Kobe could just "decide" to do that then why didn't his team win a single playoff series when he was "the man"? Why doesn't he just "decide" to drop 40 and win every single night?

[Shade8780]

:facepalm


It's sad that so many dumb fans buy this myth.


If Kobe could just "decide" to do that then why didn't his team win a single playoff series when he was "the man"? Why doesn't he just "decide" to drop 40 and win every single night?
Some times dropping 40 points every game doesn't win it for you. You have to get your teammates involved. Why do you think LeBron is so good? He can probably score 40 points if he wanted to every game but the Heat won the championship because he does everything, not just score.

[shortsoptional]

He started well for the Mavs, when Dirk was not there and they played a more open style. Once Dirk returned Mayo and teh Mavs game slowed down he got worse and worse.

His decline actually started before Dirk came back. Once defenses started keying in on him, he came back down to earth.

Watching him all of last year, the biggest thing that i noticed was that he really struggled to get a shot off unless he was wide open. His shot motion is/was very slow, so there were many times he got his shot blocked when 90% of the players in the league would have gotten the shot off.

Also, his handles are inconsistent. One moment, he'll go behind his back, create space, take a fall away jumper. The next he'll dribble it off his foot just walking up the court.

He also has terrible awareness. Too many times to count last year, he would have the ball taken away from him from behind because he just stopped paying attention.

I liked OJ, but he's a rotational/6th man type of player. And he needs to be a 3rd or 4th scorer. If he has a decent defender playing man on him, he's going to struggle getting a shot off.

[eklip]

He is a good shooter, but he has a bad/slow firststep and he is bad at changing his speed compared to good shooting guards. That makes it hard for him to create open looks, go to the rim or draw fouls. He also doesn't see the floor very well. Mayo has decent footwork and he can shoot of the dribble, so he is more than just a spot up shooter, but I don't really see star potential.

[shortsoptional]

He is a good shooter, but he has a bad/slow firststep and he is bad at changing his speed compared to good shooting guards. That makes it hard for him to create open looks, go to the rim or draw fouls. He also doesn't see the floor very well. Mayo has decent footwork and he can shoot of the dribble, so he is more than just a spot up shooter, but I don't really see star potential.


This.

It also seemed like he was playing at half speed. He was emotionless and really hardly ever showed a sense of urgency.

[salwan]

low bball iq

[coin24]

Possibly the most unclutch player ever:lol :facepalm

Even just last season on the mavs. You do not want the ball anywhere near his hands with a minute or less on the clock. Bricks, turnovers galore.
With the game tied I even saw him miss a WIDE OPEN layup on a last sec play:oldlol:

He avg decent points till dirk came back. Enjoy him bucks fans.(where mediocrity happens)

[gasolina]

I liked OJ, but he's a rotational/6th man type of player. And he needs to be a 3rd or 4th scorer. If he has a decent defender playing man on him, he's going to struggle getting a shot off.
I don't think he can be a 6th man type. We tried splitting his time with Allen and it didn't work. He needs the ball in his hands a lot of times for his game to come out. Problem is, he's just not reliable enough to handle the ball that much.

I think he'll do fine in a fastbreaking type of team, since that's about the only time he can get to the rim. Once the grizz adopted the grit and grind mentality it just didn't work for him.

The grizz also tried him as a point guard, and I think they dropped the notion just at training camp

[Djahjaga]

Some times dropping 40 points every game doesn't win it for you. You have to get your teammates involved. Why do you think LeBron is so good? He can probably score 40 points if he wanted to every game but the Heat won the championship because he does everything, not just score.

You're right, but I think what he was saying was that it's somewhat of a cop-out to intelligent bball discussion to say that a player simply "has the ability to get 40 points whenever he wants" and that players like OJ don't. Isn't that self-evident? More important is why OJ can't dominate like Kobe, especially when the comparisons were made when he was younger.

Reasons like slow first step, lack of yearly improvement, craftiness with the ball, etc. are what we're looking for.

No arguments here as to Kobe's ability to drop 40 when he wants, though.

[shortsoptional]

I don't think he can be a 6th man type. We tried splitting his time with Allen and it didn't work. He needs the ball in his hands a lot of times for his game to come out. Problem is, he's just not reliable enough to handle the ball that much.

I think he'll do fine in a fastbreaking type of team, since that's about the only time he can get to the rim. Once the grizz adopted the grit and grind mentality it just didn't work for him.

The grizz also tried him as a point guard, and I think they dropped the notion just at training camp

You had a lot more time to see him than I (a Dallas fan) did, so I'm sure you have a better understanding of what he is/isn't. I say rotational/6th man because he's certainly not good enough to start unless your team isn't going anywhere. Off the bench I would think he'd have a better oppurtunity against some of the 2nd string guys.

Either way, I think we both agree that he's just not that good. :D

[kenny817]

people thought this dude was gonna be the next 2 guard superstar. i didn't even see all-star potential in his game. his shot is good, his defense is good, his handles are good, his intangibles are decent. but theres nothing that screams out elite in one area.

he's undersized as well. he's still young, but he needs to work on improving and being great at something


:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[FreezingTsmoove]

Lets not forget dude came out to start the season HOT. Like RED HOT. Snigga was hittin everything and lighting every team up. Then players started to come back, Dirk came back and he never found his rhythm. I think the Bucks is exactly what OJ needs. A bad team for himself where he could light up the basket.

[jzek]

People were expecting him to be a franchise-type player but in reality, he's not good enough to be one. He's OK as a 3rd+ sidekick though (think Gerald Wallace).

[VIntageNOvel]

Possibly the most unclutch player ever:lol :facepalm

Even just last season on the mavs. You do not want the ball anywhere near his hands with a minute or less on the clock. Bricks, turnovers galore.
With the game tied I even saw him miss a WIDE OPEN layup on a last sec play:oldlol:

He avg decent points till dirk came back. Enjoy him bucks fans.(where mediocrity happens)

isnt that supposed to be bron :coleman:

[Scholar]

:facepalm


It's sad that so many dumb fans buy this myth.


If Kobe could just "decide" to do that then why didn't his team win a single playoff series when he was "the man"? Why doesn't he just "decide" to drop 40 and win every single night?

It's sad that all you do is go thread to thread to see if Kobe's name has been mentioned. :facepalm


Anyway, I don't get why people are saying he's undersized. He's about the same height as DWade & weighs ~210 lbs. That is pretty good. OJ just doesn't have what it takes to be the next superstar. Just face it. It has happened to plenty of people. They show promise in the beginning, but then fade away as the years go by.

[Bucket_Nakedz]

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm
well in memphis he was. didnt watch him in dally so...

[The_Yearning]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKGVx9YkY

Looking out of shape here.

[Lebron23]

Lack of discipline, and street hunger. Now he's banned from the NBA for 2 years for using drugs. I expect a ESPN 30/30 for OJ Mayo.

[Lebron23]

https://fadeawayworld.net/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTgwMTMyOTcyNTMyOTk5NTEy/the-time-oj-mayo-was-called-the-next-lebron-james.webp

I heard about his name back in 2004. They said he was the next LeBron after LBJ had a great rookie season. I think OJ was also older than his competitions. I think he was held back by a year or two.

[SaltyMeatballs]

Lebron23 stop bumping threads that nobody cares about. OJ hasn't been relevant in 10 years

[HoopologyPhD]

Lebron23 stop bumping threads that nobody cares about. OJ hasn't been relevant in 10 years

Thank you for mentioning this, I was going to post a complaint but don't have the clout to be noticed. There is enough humor and tomfoolery on ISH as it is without idiots like this clogging the front page with dated BS posts.