Jordan was doing a promo for NBA 2K14 when he was initially asked about who he would like to play. During the promo, Ahmad Rashad asked Jordan about all the trash he talked during his career. Jordan said “he didn’t trash talk unless he personally knew the player,” and that he usually let his game do his talking.
At that point, Jordan revealed a hilarious story about trash-talking to Rashad with an amazing twist. According to Jordan, then-high school basketball star OJ Mayo attended his basketball camp going into his senior year.
At that time, Mayo was considered the top prep player in the country and someone who might have considered making the jump straight to the NBA if he was allowed. Mayo, like most McDonald’s All-Americans, was feeling himself and got caught up in talking trash to an older Michael Jordan while an audience was in range.
According to reports, Jordan played one game at about half-speed against Mayo, but grew agitated by Mayo’s constant jawing at him. At that point, Jordan sent all the other campers to bed except Mayo, and proceeded to give O.J. an ass-whooping he’d never forget.
Our friends over at Larry Brown Sports have obtained a copy of that one-on-one matchup, and take it from me: Michael treated young O.J. like he was Craig Ehlo. Take a look:
During an interview with Bucks TV on Wednesday. Mayo gave his side of the story.
“I happened to be the only high school player [at the camp]. It was mainly freshmen in college. So [Jordan] came on the court and he guarded me, so instantly I thought, ‘man, he must think I’m not the strong link over here.’ I got it going a little bit. Obviously it’s any ballplayer’s dream to play against Mike. I couldn’t tell you how many times I did his move.
“I got a few buckets and I think the campers knew I was only a high school kid, so they got rowdy a little bit. We got a little bit of jawing. We played two games — it was a team game. I think we split one and one. And then he said ‘OK, now let me handle my business.’ And he looked me in my face and I said ‘whatchu mean?’ He said, ‘I need all the campers and everybody to leave. Let’s clear the gym.’ And I said, ‘oh man.’"
Mayo said at that point, Jordan flipped the switch.
“So we continued playing pickup, and Mike was Mike. He was jawing a little bit and really getting into me defensively. He was backing me down and said ‘you better scream for momma. Momma, momma!’” Mayo recalls Jordan chanting.
“He hit the famous fadeaway on me. So I said ‘OK, OK, you got it going.’ And then he said, ‘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!”
You gotta love MJ, man.
