New Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee is already seizing the opportunity to play alongside LeBron James in the purple and gold, racking up 17 points during a short preseason debut alongside The King.
“It’s definitely amazing to be able to say after I retired I played with the greatest, and some of the greatest teams,” said McGee, according to Bill Oram of The Athletic. “It’s just a blessing and every one of us is keeping open ears and being a sponge in terms of paying attention to LeBron.”
McGee hit eight of his 10 field goal attempts and pulled down seven boards during his 20-minute opening stint with the Lakers, benefitting from James' playmaking ability.
The 7-footer is bound to flourish under coach Luke Walton, who is hoping this young roster can go up and down and reap the most out of the elite playmaking abilities of James and others on the team. McGee's lob-catching ability and athletic game at the defensive end should play to James' strengths, allowing the lanky center to be a finisher at the offensive end and the last line of defense behind James, who was slotted at power forward on Sunday.
Trying to replicate McGee's two championships in two years with the Golden State Warriors can prove tough with a newly assembled roster, but getting the chance to play alongside one of the NBA's historic staples will be an experience worth soaking in during his one-year contract with the Lakers.
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