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JaVale McGee gets another ring as the Lakers win their 17th NBA Championship.
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After an unusual season and a Game 6 victory against the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers have picked up the 17th championship title in franchise history. With that win, former Nevada player JaVale McGee can also claim his third ring.
“Don’t call me ‘JaVale.’ Don’t call me ‘McGee.’ Don’t call me ‘hey you.’ Call me ‘Pierre 3Xs.’ Three championships,” said the player during the locker room celebration on Instagram Live.
McGee spent two seasons of college basketball with the Wolf Pack before starting his NBA career as the No. 18 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He began with the Washington Wizards and has been associated with a total of six teams. The 7’0 center was officially announced as a member of the Lakers’ roster in 2018.
He has now won rings with two different teams, his first two with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
https://twitter.com/nevadahoops/status/1315472721275285504?s=21
McGee averaged 16.6 minutes in 68 games during the regular season as the Lakers’ starting center. His playing time during the postseason went down as head coach Frank Vogel looked at different lineups and had his team play smaller against certain teams. McGee appeared in 14 games through the playoffs with an average of 9.6 minutes per game. He did not see any time on the court against Miami.
McGee had to adjust to less playing time during the postseason, but this didn’t go unnoticed. Vogel mentioned during the series against the Rockets that his team as a whole appreciates players like him and Dwight Howard who contribute even while sitting on the bench by cheering for their teammates and having positive attitudes.
The coach once again emphasized the importance of being a team member on Sunday. During the postgame press conference Vogel said he knew this roster was talented, but that he also liked their basketball IQ and willingness to buy into their respective roles. This helped the team with the “hybrid approach” that allowed them to be versatile and change styles based on their opponents.
“Everybody understanding that we have an extremely deep team, and whatever was asked of them was going to be filled out,” the coach explained. “The guys were just ready, willing and encouraged to start in their roles, whatever that role ended up being.”
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