Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee is invoking the ghosts of the franchise's storied past with his most recent three-game stretch. The Lakers big man has reeled off three consecutive double-doubles, becoming the only player in the NBA in the past 35 years to average better than 20 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks per contest, in addition to shooting better than 80 percent overall from the field:
Last 3 games for the @Lakers' JaVale McGee:
23.3 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 5.0 BPG, .821 FG%
He's the only NBA player in the last 35 years to average 20.0+ points, 15.0+ rebounds and 5.0+ blocks per game while shooting 80.0+ percent from the field over a 3-game span.#LakeShow
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 27, 2019
McGee finished Tuesday's win over the Washington Wizards shooting 9-for-11, collecting 20 points and 15 rebounds, while also chipping in four blocked shots.
The streak got underway Friday against the Brooklyn Nets when he set new career highs in both points (33) and rebounds (20) for a single game, shooting 15-for-20 from the floor, while also adding six blocks. He followed up that performance by going perfect (8-for-8) from the floor against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
His recent stretch has now given him 11.6 points per game across 67 contests in 2018-19, his first as a member of the Lakers. That mark would set a new career high during his 11-year run in the NBA, seemingly having finally found a home in the starting frontcourt.
Even with the Lakers ineligible for the postseason in a few weeks, McGee will look to close out the year strong in hopes of locking down a spot with the squad moving forward. At age 31, McGee has become something of an NBA nomad, having appeared with six franchises, five of which have come in the last five years. Despite that, he could be playing his best ball as of March 2019 in Lakers purple and gold.
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