For those who are new to basketball terminology (or sports terminology period), the G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest of All Time. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball of all time! You can argue It 25 ways to Sunday, it will not erase the feats that this man accomplished in his 15 year career. Even with the last two years in Washington at 39 and 40, he continued to set NBA records! I can go through the accolades, awards, and achievements all day and I will in later posts. Right now we are going to focus on one of the many “Next Michael Jordans”.
OJ Mayo came out of high school as a top prospect and a “one and done” college player who later went to USC, and nearly dominated. OJ Mayo was fresh out of high school when he attended Michael Jordan’s youth basketball camp back in 2005 or 2006. Mayo was the only high school player out of the college players that came for the pickup games. The story starts somewhere after Mayo had made a few baskets, and then he started “lipping” off to “The Great One”. Jordan had been retired for at least 2 or 3 years at the time, but still got out to do some “light” pickup games for the campers and the college kids.
Courtesy of jordansdaily.com
As the story is told my many who were there and not there, OJ Mayo began poking “The Beast” with all of the campers in attendance and getting more riled up by the only high schooler in the game doing well. After splitting two games, Jordan announced to the campers that everyone had to clear the gym. Once all the kiddies were tucked into their bunk beds, the onslaught began! With none of the impressionable young campers to hear or see the “R” Rated hoop game that “The G.O.A.T.” put on so many other NBA players, OJ Mayo developed a “Bulls-eye” on his chest! Mayo with his grandiose bragging with the campers looking on, suddenly found himself on an island and the name of that island was “G.O.A.T. Island”!
Jordan condensed to methodically dismantling Mayo on the offense and defensive end of the floor. Jumpers, blow byes, fadaways, elbows, and bumping on the defensive end, etc and so on and so forth! Just as the spirit of Mayo had been taken from him more forcefully than the light bragging he had started the exhibition with, Jordan went in for the kill shot! Backing Mayo down in the post, banging one hard dribble after one hard dribble. Just when Mayo braced for the third bump, Jordan ever so gracefully reverse pivoted to the middle of the court and shot that world famous fadaway from 16 feet. The ball barely touched the net has it went through the basket!
Courtesy of www.businessinsider.com
According to Deadspin contributor DOM COSENTINO this statement was made to the future NBAer from the great one (who was either 43 or 44 at the time) in closing out the games: “Hey, young fella, let me tell you something. You may be the best high school player in the world, but I’m the greatest ever. Don’t you ever disrespect the great like that.” ENOUGH SAID!
SOURCE: CLINT LOMAX A.K.A. MJLOVER23
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