O. J. Mayo
A basketball prodigy whose high school hype preceded an NBA career that never quite matched its stratospheric early promise.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 5·Millennials
Biography
O.J. Mayo was a name uttered with reverence in basketball circles long before he could drive. Touted as the next LeBron James in eighth grade, his journey became a cautionary tale about the weight of expectation. He dominated high school basketball with a polished, scoring-heavy game that made him a national television fixture and the top recruit in his class. His one season at USC was solid but already felt like a prelude. Drafted third overall in 2008, he had a strong rookie year with the Memphis Grizzlies, instantly becoming a scoring threat. However, his career plateaued, marked by flashes of brilliance but also suspensions and a struggle to evolve beyond being a volume shooter. After eight NBA seasons, his career was effectively ended by a league suspension for violating the anti-drug program. Mayo's legacy is complex: a reminder of the intense scrutiny placed on teen phenoms and a story of talent that, while good enough for the NBA, never reached the transcendent heights once predicted.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
O. was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When O. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
O.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the 2008 USBWA National Freshman of the Year after his season at the University of Southern California.
- Finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 2009 after averaging 18.5 points per game for the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Scored a career-high 40 points in an NBA game for the Dallas Mavericks against the Houston Rockets in 2016.
- Led Huntington High School to a state championship and was a three-time first-team Parade All-American.
Did You Know?
He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2005 while still in high school, with the headline 'The Next LeBron?'
Mayo played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for several seasons after his NBA career ended.
He served an NBA-mandated two-year suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program, which effectively ended his time in the league.
In high school, he famously played a game on national TV against top prospect Greg Oden's team.
“I let the game come to me and take what the defense gives.”
