JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/knockout.mapping/2.3.5/knockout.mapping.js"></script>
<select name="x" data-bind="options: Options, optionsText: 'Name', value: SelectedOption"></select>
<span data-bind="text: SelectedOption().ID"></span>

JavaScript

var _json = '{               "SelectedOption" : {},         "Options" : [             { "ID": 0, "Name": "Zero" },            { "ID": 1, "Name": "One" }        ]    }';

    var mapping = {
        'SelectedOption': {
            create: function(data) {
                return ko.observable(data);
            }
        }
    }

    var viewModel = ko.mapping.fromJSON(_json, mapping);
    ko.applyBindings(viewModel);