Sporting News names O.J. Mayo NBA Player to Watch in 2009
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Memphis, January 5, 2009 — Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo has been named Sporting News Magazine’s NBA player to watch in 2009.The new magazine, which hits newsstands this week, spotlights one athlete in each sport.
Mayo joins Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (college football); Kalin Lucas, Michigan State (college basketball); Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals (NFL); Victor Hedman, Modo/Sweden (NHL); Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves (baseball); and David Ragan (NASCAR).
In choosing Mayo, Sporting News NBA expert Sean Deveney writes, “Mayo, the No. 3 pick in the 2008 draft, isn’t going to wait to become a star. He scored in double figures in his first 25 games, the longest streak to start an NBA career since David Robinson did it in his first 77 games in the 1989-90 season.”
SN isn’t alone in expecting greatness of Mayo. Magic Johnson tells the magazine, “O.J. has really surprised a lot of people. I got a chance to see him out here with USC. It is funny, sometimes playing college is one thing, but when you get to the NBA, you get to see the total package.
“O.J. Mayo is showing you the total package. The NBA game is tailor-made for his game. He is a big guard, like me or like Mark Jackson. He can go down and make a shot for himself. Or he can dish it off. He has created excitement in Memphis.”
Mayo, the NBA T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November, leads all NBA rookies in scoring (19.7 points) and ranks in the Top 10 among rookies in assists (3.0, 5th), steals (1.00, 5th), three-pointers made (65, 2nd), three-point field goal percentage (.394, 3rd), free throw percentage (.879, 4th) and minutes (38.0, 1st).
Sporting News Magazine can be purchased at all Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets. For more information, contact SN editor-in-chief Jeff D’Alessio at jdalessio@sportingnews.com.