The Memphis Grizzlies renounced the rights to Hakim Warrick last week to give them more flexibility in free agency. Many are speculating the move was made to bring in Allen Iverson. How does O.J. Mayo feel about the move:

“If it’s to make room for Allen Iverson, I definitely think we’re making a step forward and as a young player in my second year in the league (it) definitely gets me excited that we’re going the right way and making some good choices for the organization.”

On people comparing him to LeBron or Kobe:

“I like DWade, Gilbert Arenas, a young Ray Allen when he played for the Bucks.”

On Losing:

“Losing is the hardest thing – it’s the worst thing about my NBA experience so far.”

On the seemingly bias coverage he’s been subjected to:

“I just have to keep working hard and keep my nose clean and just try to be the best player I can be.”

“I think the world of him,” Bryant said. “I think he’s extremely talented. I think he has a great overall game that a lot of young players don’t have in terms of skills. He can handle, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s fast, he’s quick, so that’s the whole package.”

Mayo ended with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists but shot 6-for-20 from the field, including missing 7 straight shots at one point. Rose finished with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists but had 5 turnovers.

“I’m just trying to get better as a player,” Mayo said. “I’m not perfect, but I strive to be perfect. Nobody plays perfect but I just try to get better.”

“I feel like as a ballplayer and as a competitor who wants to win, anything short of a national championship will be a failure for the team this year”

Slam Online posted the full transcript to their interview with O.J. Mayo. It’s quite a long read but very interesting. Among the many points:

On why bother worrying about academics if he is going to be a “one and done” player as everyone says he will be:

I don’t want to think that. I mean, that could be a goal—it could be—but you never know. You never know what type of season we may have. We might come close to winning a national championship, might wanna just go and knock it out the next year. You never know. But right now I’m just worried about learning stuff in college, the experience, being independent.

On what the coaches at USC expect from him:

Being a point guard, coming in and being a leader. My main thing, I just want to come in and perfect winning.

On UCLA super freshman Kevin Love:

I’ve been knowing him since the eighth grade, I’ve watched him grow, he’s watched me grow, we’re getting better as players, we’re cool as friends. But I’m self-motivated. I gotta take care of my family. That’s enough motivation.

On Kobe:

I just think he takes his job serious. It’s not something just to be paid off of, be in magazines, you know, it’s serious. You step out on the court, it’s business. Like, “I’m here to show you that this is what I do, and I’m the best.”

On why USC?

Like a lot of people are like, “Why USC?” Well, you gotta go somewhere to learn, you know what I mean? And what better place to learn about than L.A.? Out here, a lot of people do things in real estate, in business. There’s a lot going on outside just basketball and the fast life, Hollywood and movies and stuff. There’s a lot of people that make things happen out here.

And finally a message to the kids:

I just want to let them know, if you got a dream, it’s cool to dream big things, because it can happen. Nothing’s really impossible anymore. As long as you work hard, you stay focused, and you know that, “This is what I wanna do, and I’m gonna do it, I don’t care, nothing’s gonna hold me back.” I just want people to know that it’s OK to dream big, make things happen.

Read the entire interview at Slam.

“He looked good. He looked like he had been doing it all his life.” – Marcus Simmons, Freshman Forward

“He showed flashes where if he had to take over, he could take over.” – Dwight Lewis, Sophomore Guard

“He’s like every other freshman… He’s got to learn what we’re doing right now, and as he gets more confident in the system of play and in what we’re doing, he’ll grow like all the freshmen will.” – Tim Floyd, USC Head Coach

“It was all right. It was fun… My first college practice, I’m real excited.” – O.J. Mayo, Freshman Guard

Source: LA Times

Which is the reverse of the No. 23 made famous by his idol LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

“When I was younger and playing point guard, I guess it was because of Magic Johnson. I’ve just kept it since then.”

“I plan on making a living at this. I know that’s going to be a lot of hard work and determination. But I feel like that’s why I was born and put on this Earth, to be a leader, to be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play and to be a great example and role model for the kids and for different people out there who look up toward me.” – O.J. Mayo

“I have a goal to be a NBA Hall of Famer. That’s what drives me.”