Here’s the thing about the battle at center for the Wizards. It’s all there for JaVale McGee to claim – and he knows it. Now, sometimes it can be a little difficult to read the third-year center, but there’s little doubt that he understands what his place should be. It’s just a matter of whether or not he can discipline himself enough to keep it.
“I’m just expecting to have a better performance than the last two seasons, a more consistent performance,” said McGee when asked earlier this week about the expectations that are on him for this season.
Recommended Stories
McGee should be the starter when the Wizards open the regular season on Oct. 28. After all, Washington shipped out Brendan Haywood last year, let Fabricio Oberto go during the offseason, and the team hasn’t exactly brought in anyone who is a proven starter at the five. Sean Marks is a career back-up, Hilton Armstrong’s numbers are underwhelming, Yi Jianlian is more suited to play forward, and Kevin Seraphin is still raw. McGee, on the other hand, is coming off a second consecutive massive showing in Las Vegas, and he nearly made the USA Basketball team for the FIBA World Championships.
But the Wizards tried him as a starter last winter, and to put it delicately, it wasn’t good. Washington went 4-15 with McGee as a starter – he was in the first five for the first 13 of the Wizards’ franchise-record 16-game losing streak.
“He’s going to have to learn how to play as a starter,” said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders, who couldn’t help but get frustrated watching McGee pick up two fouls before the first TV timeout night after night.
However, after getting demoted back to the reserves over the final 12 games of the year, McGee’s numbers jumped to 12.3 points, 7.2 boards and 2.3 blocks, including his career-best 25-point, 15-rebound game against Golden State on April 6. Now, that was a terribly depleted Warriors club that had just seven players available. The thing about McGee is, he’s aware of that in the same way that he’s aware that “It’s just summer league” when asked about his 19.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in Las Vegas, where he immediately connected with John Wall working the pick and roll – a chemistry that has resurfaced at training camp, too. McGee also has politely reminded those who’ve asked that his experience with the national team wasn’t a “teaching” experience but a “do what they tell you” situation.
“I think it made me a more mature player,” said McGee, “and it was great playing with those guys.”
And players love to praise McGee, too – though usually with caveats. Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom said it best in August.
“He’s 7-1, got like a David Robinson build, springs off the floor real quick, goes over the rim,” said Odom. “If he can just get his feel for the game together, he can have an impact on a team. Because the game is called basketball, not run and jump.”
“With that size and athletic ability he’s got, it’s amazing,” said Marks. “He’s a huge upside to his game. once he develops a go-to move, he’ll be great.”
“He’s big, he can jump, he’s quick off his feet, he’s very skilled, and I just want to be a part of helping him get better and have him help me get better,” said Armstrong.
In fact, McGee, who is still just 22 years old, is also still growing. He’s taller, stronger (his weight is up 10 pounds to 260) and dealing better with the exercise-induced asthma that was diagnosed last winter. Combine that with his athleticism, and there is no ceiling that can contain the 7-foot-something kid who behind the scenes is also one of the funniest guys on the team. (His trip through a McDonald’s on a Segway has to make him a frontrunner, right?) Despite his size, he’s rumored to have one of the best Dougies on the team.
But what really matters is whether he can avoid biting on pump fakes.
“Making sure I box out on offense and defense,” said McGee when asked what he needs to do to get better. “And it’s all about position, so I gotta make sure that my position is correct.”
The Wizards certainly hope he gets it right, even if they have to let him do it his own way.
“I’m just trying to take one in the head,” said McGee, “and do it myself, figure it out.”
