O.J. Mayo Just Got Kicked Out of the NBA For Violating Drug Policy
Another O.J. is in trouble.
The NBA dismissed veteran Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo from the league today for a violation of the its anti-drug policy.
Under the terms of the agreement between the league the player’s association, a player can be booted from the NBA for a positive test for a “drug of abuse,” which include amphetamines, cocaine, LSD, opiates, and PCP. Mayo will be able to apply for reinstatement in two years.
Since 1986, the NBA has kicked out 11 players including Mayo for violating the substance abuse policy. Chris Andersen, also known as “Birdman,” was the last one.
He was out of the league in 2006 and 2007. Andersen applied for and received his reinstatement in 2009 and has spent the eight seasons since as a productive role player, winning an NBA title with the Heat in 2013.
Mayo may not be so lucky. The eight-year vet will be 30 years old in two years and he’s coming off career lows in points-per-game, shooting percentage and PER.
Even if he is reinstated in two years, it seems a long shot that any team will take a chance on him. And not just becuase he’ll an old-for-the-NBA guard with diminishing skills, but becuase of his long history being in a pain in the ass.
Mayo’s NBA banishment is the culmination of a disappointing career that includes one suspension for performance enhancing drugs, which Mayo blamed on an energy drink, and pedestrian stats from a player once labeled “the next LeBron.”
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