When you think of the top three goofiest players in the NBA today, JaVale McGee is probably the first name that most people can come up with. It can’t be helped: the guy made it to Shaquille O’Neals’ “Shaqtin’ A Fool” segment on TNT almost every other week last season. If you think that’s an exaggeration, just watch this clip. Admittedly, Shaq did unnecessary pick on him at times, but mostly, it was warranted.
Despite what we’ve been conditioned to believe, though, McGee is a lot smarter than you may have been led to believe. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it, from Jeff Caplan of NBA.com:
“People around the NBA really think that I’m dumb or stupid,” McGee said. “But people that know me know that I’m actually very intelligent. It doesn’t affect me at all.”
In fact, McGee, who goes by an alter ego called Pierre on his colorful Instagram and Twitter accounts, has big plans.
All jokes aside, the center remains an intriguing talent, who comes with ups and downs. For the upcoming season, he is looking for the opportunity to have many more ups with a new coach in town:
With a new coach and a fresh slate this season in Denver, rising to All-Star-caliber-big-man status, he said, is within his grasp.
“Definitely,” McGee told NBA.com this week. “I feel like I’m extremely athletic, extremely fast, extremely agile for being a 7-foot big man and just need the right people behind me to be able to bring what has to come out to be a dominant center in the league. There’s a lot of things that haven’t even been [brought out] of my game that people haven’t even seen. So I just feel like this is going to be the season.”
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“I’m definitely getting that feeling from the coaches that I’m going to be more of an impact and getting more minutes,” said McGee, who enters his sixth NBA season and second full season in Denver after 3 ½ oddball years with Washington. “It’s really up to the coach as to how he wants to use me. It’s up to me to work and everything, and I’m going to do that. So if I work hard and I come prepared and in shape for training camp, there’s nothing that can stop me but the coach.”
McGee goes on about the things he is capable of in the article, such as shooting mid-range jump shots, posting up and the general belief that his peers have a great fear of his abilities. The problem here is that he appears to be too absorbed in all the things he may be able to do rather than focus on how he can use his best assets to help the team. All those ridiculous misses, turnovers and the almost-take-out-the-knee-of-own-teammate plays happen when he ventures out of his lane, which he is too often eager to do. It’s not as if other centers around the league aren’t capable of attempting to do whatever they feel like doing on the court for their own benefit, but many refrain from doing so. It’s a simple matter of having discipline and doing what is best for the team.
McGee’s thought process of wanting to prove his worth is understandable: his reputation won’t change unless he can distinctly impress. But does his desire fall in line with what his team needs from him? Like he said, McGee has the ability to be a major factor on both ends of the court for the Denver Nuggets with increased playing time. However, he’s only going to get there if he can manage to control his inner demons and realize that there are four other guys running with him.
Onto other news from around the league:
Ian Begley of ESPN NY explains why it makes sense for Carmelo Anthony to opt out of his current contract: “Yeah, I’m not going nowhere,” Anthony told Bloomberg TV’s Market Makers on Tuesday when asked if he was going to stay in New York after the season. Notice, Anthony didn’t say he wouldn’t opt out. Opting-out makes financial sense for the Knicks star. He can make more money as a free agent than he can by finishing his current contract. It also makes financial sense for Anthony to remain in New York. If he chooses to opt out and sign with another team, he can sign a four-year contract worth $95,897,372, according to calculations by ESPN salary cap guru Larry Coon. If Anthony opts out and re-signs with the Knicks, he can sign a five-year contract worth $129,135,806. That’s a difference of $33,238,434. Those numbers are based on the assumption Anthony, one of the top scorers in the NBA, will sign a max contract.”
