Grizzlies Ban Gambling on Card Games After O.J. Mayo-Tony Allen Fight

Chalk up another NBA team fight to gambling debts. Last year it was finger guns getting into a life-changing fight with teammate Javaris Crittenton that grabbed headlines. This year, it’s two Memphis Grizzlies responsible for a fight rather than the Washington Bullets Wizards.

O.J. Mayo, who hasn’t exactly had the best month, apparently owed teammate Tony Allen $1,500 stemming from losses over the game “Boo-Ray.” Mayo wouldn’t pay up and reportedly antagonized Allen, leading to things getting testy between the two. Allen eventually hit Mayo at least five times according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, and Mayo missed Tuesday’s Grizzlies game because of “bronchitis.”

Coach Lionel Hollins has banned gambling on team flights in order to cut down on the problems, or at least in order to look good for the media. It’s not a bad strategy for Hollins given his most recent incident. What I don’t understand is why $1,500 was a problem for Mayo — that’s like pocket change for him. It must be a matter of principle and not the money. Too bad Tim Floyd wasn’t around either otherwise he would have had that debt paid for O.J. in a second.