During a time when there is much rejoicing in the NBA as to where free agents will be playing next year, O.J. Mayo has received some bad news. The unrestricted free agent was banned today by the NBA for violating the league’s drug policy, according to ESPN.
BREAKING: NBA announces OJ Mayo has been dismissed & disqualified from league for violating Anti-Drug Program terms. pic.twitter.com/ATLJjQHKkM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2016
Mayo has previously served a 10-game suspension for a similar violation to the league’s drug policy, but according to the rules of the NBA’s drug program, the details surrounding this ban cannot be released to the public, so we do not know what actions led to this serious ban.
The drug program allows for a player to apply for reinstatement to the league after two years, so Mayo will miss a considerable amount of time from the NBA. Mayo played for the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, averaging 7.8 points in only 41 games.
Mayo has declined ever since entering the league. He was a highly rated draft prospect coming out of USC, and he was drafted 3rd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies back in 2008. After a few good seasons, he had become a glorified role player on mediocre teams.
