Stephen Curry, Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and JaVale McGee. Has an intruder slipped into the list? Well no. With the title in Tokyo, Uncle JaVale joins the big names in the basketball world, these guys who have an Olympic gold medal and three champion’s rings in their living room. End of the bench, often mocked, the MVP of Shaqtin’A Fool has yet built a track record to make Russell Westbrook or James Harden jealous.
With the announcement of his selection in the Team USA roster to replace Kevin Love, JaVale McGee was a bit like the French football team in the midst of co-sports during the Olympics. Many have wondered about the presence of the inner whimsical in the team led by Gregg Popovich. More present on the chair at the end of the bench than on the floor of Saitama (3 games and 6 minutes on average for 7 points and 1.3 rebounds), LaVallée McGee nevertheless leaves with gold around his neck. He imitates, at the same time … his mother Pamela, Olympic champion in 1984 in Los Angeles, and this new title fills an already well-stocked trophy cabinet. NBA champion with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018, then with the Lakers in 2020 and now Olympic champion, a very rich record for those who have become a useful, serious and desired role player.
Finally “serious”, difficult to use this word with JaVale McGee. Drafted in 2008, the interior was at the start of his career more in the front page for its dumplings and its swings in concentration. Passed by Washington, Denver, Philadelphia or Dallas, he has already made his way to the Hall of Fame at Shaqtin’A Fool even before his retirement. Capable of slamming the poster of the year on one action and playing leapfrog with the opponents on the next, he probably has more appearances in the bloopers than Eric Moussambani during his 100m at Syndey. But despite the mockery JaVale hung on and went all the way, like the swimmer for that matter. Now place for a more limited… but defined role. During each title, the friend JaVale brings in the racket his size, his wingspan, last QI basket, his presence on the block and on the rebound. During the Lakers title, he even takes the role of community manager with his vlogs to discover life in the Orlando bubble. In short, JaVale McGee has found his place by becoming, like Bernard Montiel, the friend of the stars and if KD or LeBron have led their team to victory, McGee also has one more line in the charts. Yes, escapades will always be part of the character, but he will forever be able to congratulate himself on a busy and above all successful career.
McGee for four years is therefore three NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal. It’s simple, no one has done better in the basketball world. Admittedly in a limited role, always with blunders here and there, but JaVale understood everything. He knows how to win by always being in the right place at the right time. A godsend for the… Suns, with whom he recently signed during the Free Agency. The Arizona franchise can already start celebrating the 2022 title and fans savor the all-time duo that is shaping up with Cameron Payne coming off the bench.
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