Former Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee will be honored with his second championship ring prior to the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. Former teammate Andre Iguodala will present him with the ring, head coach Steve Kerr said on 95.7 The Game Thursday, per Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area.
It's only fitting that Iguodala is presenting this piece of hardware to McGee, as it was the 34-year-old wing who lobbied for the 7-footer to get a chance as the 15th man of the roster after playing alongside him as members of the Denver Nuggets. McGee first got a chance in workouts with the team before the Warriors signed him to a one-year deal in 2016.
His impact made him viable for another one-year deal for the veteran's minimum in 2017, extending his stay with the Warriors and this time growing into his role as an anchor, starting in 17 games after a slew of injuries rained down for Golden State.
The Warriors have sorely missed McGee's impact on the court, as that energetic jolt out of the center position has been lacking all season long with players like Damian Jones and Jordan Bell struggling to find their footing.
Whether it was a high-skying lob throwdown or a rejection spanked into the third row of the stands, McGee always found a way to get the crowd going to help swing the balance in favor of his team, something that made him a fan favorite, while his funny antics endeared him to the locker room.
At age 30, McGee finds himself with his most steady role with the Lakers, having started all 29 games that he has played in — the most since making 40 starts in 41 games for the Washington Wizards in 2011-12. He's averaging a career-high 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in his first season in Los Angeles.
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