How JaVale McGee Became One of the Most Entertaining NBA Players in History
2025-11-17 10:00
I remember sitting in the bleachers during a particularly forgettable preseason game back in 2012, watching JaVale McGee attempt a three-pointer that hit the top of the backboard with such force I thought the whole structure might collapse. The entire arena went silent for half a second before erupting in laughter - including me. But here's the thing: while everyone else was laughing at him, I found myself laughing with him, and that's when it hit me - this man was quietly becoming one of the most uniquely entertaining athletes I'd ever witnessed. How JaVale McGee became one of the most entertaining NBA players in history isn't just about basketball skills - it's about how someone can turn potential embarrassment into enduring charm.
I've followed basketball religiously since the 90s, and I've seen all types of players come through the league. The thing about McGee that always stood out to me was his combination of breathtaking athleticism and these moments of pure, unscripted comedy that you just couldn't make up. Remember when he celebrated a basket during a dead ball? Or when he attempted that fast break dunk from what seemed like the free throw line and missed spectacularly? These weren't just mistakes - they were moments of pure theater. What fascinates me is how these incidents, which would have buried other players' careers, somehow made McGee more beloved.
There's something about his game that reminds me of that reference about the Huskers - "only two of the 15 Huskers fielded by coach Eric Gonzales failed to score." McGee might have his moments where he fails to score metaphorically, but when he does score - whether literally with an incredible block or figuratively with another Shaqtin' A Fool moment - he scores big. His entertainment value comes from this unpredictable nature where you're never quite sure what version of McGee you're going to get. Will it be the athletic phenom who swats shots into the third row, or the guy who tries to dunk from an impossible angle and creates an instant viral moment?
I've actually met McGee once at a charity event in Denver, and what struck me was how completely self-aware he was about his reputation. While other players might have been bitter about becoming a regular feature on blooper reels, McGee embraced it with this genuine smile that made you realize he understood the entertainment value he brought to the game. "Man, if people are talking about basketball and having fun watching it," he told me, "then I'm doing something right." That perspective is rare in professional sports, where everything tends to be taken so seriously.
The numbers tell part of the story too - across his 15-year career, he's averaged around 8 points and 5 rebounds per game, but statistics can't capture the sheer entertainment factor. I'd argue he's generated more memorable moments per minute played than almost any player in recent memory. Think about it - how many role players do you remember specifically from a game five years ago? With McGee, I can recall specific plays from his Washington days that still make me chuckle.
What's remarkable is how his career has evolved while maintaining that entertainment factor. He went from being the butt of jokes to winning three championships, proving that his value extended beyond just comic relief. Yet even during those championship runs with Golden State and Lakers, he'd still have these McGee moments that reminded everyone why he's so uniquely entertaining. I was watching Game 4 of the 2017 Finals when he had that sequence where he scored three straight baskets, including this absurd alley-oop where he caught the ball behind his head. The very next possession, he stumbled over his own feet bringing the ball up court. Pure McGee.
The man has turned what could have been career-defining blunders into a brand of entertainment that's entirely his own. In an era where athletes are increasingly media-trained into blandness, McGee's genuine, unfiltered approach to the game feels refreshing. He's the player you can't take your eyes off because anything might happen - whether it's a spectacular block that changes the game or a moment of accidental comedy that becomes an instant classic. That duality, that unpredictability, that sheer joy he brings to the court - that's how JaVale McGee became one of the most entertaining NBA players in history. And honestly? The league would be far less interesting without him.