Ex-NBA star OJ Mayo joins Fubon Braves in ABL
FILE – O.J. Mayo #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on February 20, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Former NBA lottery pick O.J. Mayo is taking his talents to the ASEAN Basketball League, joining newest member Fubon Braves.
Mayo is suiting up for his third team in Asia after Taiwan’s Dacin Tigers and China’s Hunan Jinjian Miye.
He is just the third player in ABL history with NBA experience joining Alab Pilipinas’ Renaldo Balkman and Saigon Heat’s Gary Forbes.
Mayo had a decent NBA career across eight seasons averaging 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals but was slapped with a two-year suspension after violating the NBA Anti-Drug Policy in 2016.
He joined in 2008 NBA Draft where he was picked third overall by Minnesota but was shipped to Memphis.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard will form a backcourt with Lin Chih-Chieh in the debuting Braves, who replaced defending champions CLS Knights of Indonesia.
Fubon will play its first game on the opening day of the season against Macau on Nov.16.
