O.J. Mayo‘s miserable season got a lot worse yesterday, when it was announced that he’s been suspended for 10 games by the NBA for testing positive for the legal but banned-by-the-NBA steroid-like drug DHEA. This will cost Mayo more than $400,000 and cost the Grizzlies their fourth-leading scorer during a crucial stretch of games in which they’re trying to catch the Portland Trailblazers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
A Bad Year
But this is only the latest and worst incident in what has been a bit of a nightmare season for the third-year guard, preceded by the following:
• The Grizzlies spent their top draft pick (Xavier Henry) and primary free-agent acquisition (Tony Allen) on players at Mayo’s position.
• Mayo’s attempt to develop his on-ball skills in the summer league resulted in a turnover-heavy performance aborted after two games and dismissive public comments from a head coach who has bristled at even the mildest criticisms of Mayo’s backcourt partner, Mike Conley.
• Mayo failed to make the US national team only to watch teammate Rudy Gay and two-guard rival Eric Gordon not only make the team but shine at the World Basketball Championships.
• While Gordon and Gay followed up their international play with career-best seasons, Mayo was moved into a sixth-man role and has registered career lows pretty much across the board.
• Mayo caught the bad end of a fistfight with teammate Tony Allen following a gambling dispute on the team plane. Mayo missed the next game with a black eye labeled “bronchitis” while Allen shined in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, drawing public praise from his coach and teammates.
