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JaVale McGee

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JaVale McGee

JaVale Lindy McGee (/əˈvl/ jə-VAYL; born January 19, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Nevada Wolf Pack and was selected 18th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA draft. McGee is a three-time NBA champion, having won consecutive titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 before winning a third title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The son of Olympic gold medalist Pamela McGee, he won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.

McGee was born in Flint, Michigan, and attended two high schools in Michigan, Detroit Country Day School and Providence Christian, before transferring to Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, Illinois. According to Hales Franciscan coach Gary London, McGee's natural position in college was ideally small forward, and he could play both forward spots.

McGee was the starting center for the University of Nevada. After averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds and shooting 53% from the field and 33% from three-point range as a sophomore, McGee decided to hire an agent and declare for the 2008 NBA draft.

McGee was selected 18th overall by the Wizards in the 2008 NBA draft. On July 9, 2008, he signed a two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Wizards.

On January 9, 2010, the Wizards fined McGee $10,000 for participating in Gilbert Arenas' antics before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers four days prior. Arenas was being investigated for a prior incident involving guns in the Wizards' locker room, but made light of the accusations by pointing his finger at his teammates, as if he were shooting them. His teammates were photographed smiling and laughing with him.

On January 6, 2011, McGee was chosen to participate in the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He was the first Wizard to ever participate in the contest. McGee finished in second place, losing to Blake Griffin. McGee was the first player to use three balls at one time in a dunk contest, which was later cited by the Guinness World Records as the most basketballs dunked in a single jump. The third ball was passed to him from teammate John Wall.

On March 15, 2011, in a 98–79 loss against the Chicago Bulls, McGee notched his first career triple-double, recording 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 blocks. McGee's career-high 12 blocks was the most since Keon Clark had 12 on March 23, 2001. However, McGee received some criticism for taking ill-advised shots in the fourth quarter to ensure he reached 10 points while his team was being blown out, and even received a technical foul for excessive celebration by pulling himself on the rim after a dunk for his final points. Television commentator Kevin McHale called it a "bad triple-double". In response to the criticism, McGee said, "I got a triple-double. Who can say they got a triple-double? I'm not really worried about it."

During the 2011 NBA lockout, NBPA leaders met with around 30 players on October 14 and stressed unity. McGee left the meeting early and told reporters there were some players "saying that they're ready to fold", but the majority was united. McGee later denied mentioning that players were ready to fold, but his comment was recorded by reporters. Derek Fisher said that McGee had "no ability to make that statement" based on the limited time he spent at the meeting.

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