JaVale McGee could have hung up his sneakers by now had teams not shown interest in getting him for another National Basketball Association (NBA) run.
During the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks were among the notable teams that were seriously considering McGee, an athletic and energetic player who can certainly bring a lot of intangibles when he is called upon to take the floor.
McGee eventually landed in Dallas but has hardly been felt since he was still recovering from injury. He officially played his first game last Sunday and made a good account of himself.
He logged 11 minutes against the Thunder and compiled eight points and six rebounds, not bad for someone who is practically dipping his hands in the Mavs circle. But one thing that the stat sheets will not show are the intangibles like hustle and energy which are two things that make him quite likeable in the NBA scene.
According to teammate Devin Harris via Star Telegram, "It's still a work in progress as far as what we want defensively, but I think offensively he's got a good feel for what we want." McGee's ability to protect the rim is what matters most to the Mavericks and from the looks of it, McGee is working on that aspect.
With the new lease on life, hopefully McGee can flourish as he goes along. He is only 27-years-old and, apparently, has a lot of basketball ahead of him. To ensure his durability, however, it may be wise for him to play a bit cautiously and avoid the crazy plays which could see him ending up injured.
If he wants to last in the NBA, looking out for his health and balancing it with his style of play will certainly be helpful. The Mavs obviously believe he has what it takes to be successful in the NBA and so do other teams. But all that is futile if he spends most of his time on sick bay that on the basketball court.
