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When the Golden State Warriors signed JaVale McGee as a free agent in the summer of 2016, many in the basketball world scoffed at the move.
They cited McGee's lack of professionalism and basketball IQ, as well as his buffoonery that would make its way onto “Shaqtin' A Fool.” He was even the subject of some trade speculation at this season's deadline.
But the Warriors kept him, and have been thriving this season in the minutes he's been on the floor. McGee surely appreciates that, but he also likes the way the organization handles itself in general.
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In fact, in all the basketball stops he's had throughout his career, McGee likes this one the best, per Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I’m the happiest I’ve been, by far,” McGee said. “They don’t sweat the little things here. Other organizations, unfortunately, they sweat little things. Here, they just know how to do it. It’s a players’ league, and this team really focuses on that. It’s a players’ team.”
Much has been said about the way the culture changed when Steve Kerr arrived, and how much the head coach values joy in coming to work. It was Kerr and general manager Bob Myers who allowed McGee to have his after-game video series “Parking Lot Chronicles.”
What's interesting here is even something as insignificant as that has actually added to the quality of life for McGee. The organization allowing him to be himself has likely translated to the basketball court, people see now that McGee can be a valuable member of an NBA team after all.
