Kings' Gay on O.J. Mayo: 'I guess when you're hurt in Wisconsin, you eat'

The state of Wisconsin has proven unkind to O.J. Mayo. 

Since signing a three-year deal with the Bucks prior to the season, Mayo has seen his production, efficiency, and minutes plummet under head coach Larry Drew - but that doesn't mean the six-year guard is going hungry. 

After sitting 10 games beginning in late January, Mayo's fitness took a serious downturn, while his weight went in the opposite direction. After a brief return, Mayo was sat for six games because his conditioning remained inadequate. 

Unable to fool his head coach, Mayo also failed to dupe former Memphis Grizzlies teammate, Rudy Gay. 

"Was I surprised to see it? Little bit," Gay said after the Kings beat the Bucks Sunday night via Cowbell Kingdom. "I haven’t seen him, but we talked a little bit. He said he was hurt, and I guess when you’re hurt in Wisconsin, you eat."

Despite the backhanded shot at the state that made beer and brats famous, Gay believes that Mayo will eventually help the team who invested $24 million in his former running-mate last summer. 

"He’s had a bad season, but he’s still a good player. He’s a little overweight, hasn’t played a lot this season, but he’s still O.J. Mayo in there and I’ve seen him do things like that all the time.

"He can hit tough shots. He’s a ball player."

The Bucks will be in Los Angeles (where the food, we're sure, is tremendous) on Monday to take on the Clippers.