JaVale McGee, who is from Flint, Michigan, attended three different high schools before settling down. His next trip was the University of Nevada, where in his sophomore year he averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds. Following a successful season, McGee made the decision to become pro and was chosen by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft.
During his final two seasons in Washington, McGee showed promise as a Wizard, averaging more than 10 points and 8 rebounds per game.
He was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2012, where he spent the following four seasons in a more supporting role. Over the following two seasons, he moved about to Philly and Dallas before settling in Golden State. The Warriors welcomed the quirky McGee with open arms as they were halfway to establishing their dynasty.
McGee did a good job of filling in as a bench spark for the Warriors during both of their championship campaigns, even going into double figures on several occasions during crucial playoff games. He moved nearby to the Lakers, where he backed up Anthony Davis for two years, adding another ring, after winning two championships in Golden State.
Golden State Warriors, 2016–17 (beat Cleveland 4-1)
Golden State’s 2016–17 campaign was almost as successful as their historic 2016 campaign, which they didn’t really win the championship in. The Warriors, who already had a strong roster with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, became even more dominant with the arrival of Kevin Durant.
In the 2016–17 season with the Warriors, JaVale McGee had a small role, but he excelled when it mattered. He contributed significantly to the Warriors’ first-round rout of the Portland Trailblazers by scoring 15 and 14 points in Games 2 and 3, respectively. Before winning the NBA championship, the Warriors swept the entire postseason before dominating the Cavaliers in the Finals.
JaVale McGee played wisely and had some incredibly effective games throughout the playoffs even though he wasn’t a major contributor to this Warriors team that was loaded with superstars. Over the course of 17 playoff games, he had 15 blocks and a field goal percentage of 72%. Everyone on Golden State had his back just as much as he had theirs, making him a fantastic teammate.
Golden State Warriors, 2017–18 (beat Cleveland 4-0)
The Warriors were in control in 2017, solidifying their reputation as one of the most dominant squads in NBA history. They won the championship in 2015 and 2017 and set an NBA record in 2016 by winning 73 regular-season games. The 2018 squad exhibited exceptional team chemistry across the board.
JaVale McGee made strides as well, contributing crucial minutes to the club. After the All-Star break, he was even added to the starting lineup. McGee and the Warriors were once again the favourites to win the championship as the playoffs began. In the first three rounds of the playoffs, they only dropped five games. For the fourth consecutive year, Golden State had their eyes on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.
Early in the playoffs, JaVale McGee displayed flashes of his potential, but he kept some of his most impressive postseason play for Games 2 and 3 of the Finals. In Game 2, McGee scored 12 points while shooting a flawless 6 for 6 from the field. He quickly followed it up with a 10-point performance in just 14 minutes in Game 3. Golden State completely swept the Cavaliers in just four games, dominating them.
Los Angeles Lakers in 2019–20 (beat Miami 4-2)
LeBron James’ first two championships had JaVale McGee on the other side. The Lakers, who were heavily favoured to win the 2020 championship, were the team he then found himself working with. As per customary, McGee positioned himself as one of the two Lakers big men to control the paint when Anthony Davis, the standout player for Los Angeles, took a break. And McGee utilised his time on the floor to its fullest.
In the regular season, JaVale averaged sixteen minutes per game and scored ten or more goals fourteen times. In twelve games, he also had at least three blocked shots. He didn’t have a major part in the playoffs, and he barely appeared at all in the championship game. He nevertheless had a significant role in the Lakers’ achievement in securing the top seed in the postseason.
Read Also:
- I Was Born A Dog I Identify As A Dog
- Movies Like Call Me By Your Name
- When Will We Know Who Won The Election
Final Reflections
To put it mildly, JaVale McGee’s career has been a trip. He began as a young, potentially disruptive professional player who found himself in the NBA. In the grand scheme of NBA history, his career averages of 8 points and 5 rebounds aren’t very ground-breaking, but McGee will always be remembered for some special events in the game, including lifting the NBA Championship three times.
