JaVale McGee has had an illustrious NBA career, firmly establishing himself as a key role player on championship squads. With three NBA titles to his name, McGee has enjoyed success with the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, two storied franchises.
Having won two of his three rings with the Warriors, McGee was recently interviewed by Josh Bett, who asked the big man to name his all-time Warriors starting lineup. He responded:
Bett: “Point guard?”
McGee: “Steph Curry”
Bett: “Shooting guard?”
McGee: “Klay Thompson”
Bett: “Small forward?”
McGee: “Andre Iguodala”
Bett: “Power forward?”
McGee: “Draymond Green”
Bett: “Finally, center. Big man in the middle? I think this should be obvious.”
McGee: “Yours truly, JaVale McGee”
Bett followed up by presenting his own list, featuring legends such as Tim Hardaway and Latrell Sprewell in the mix. While impressive in its own right, it was clear that McGee’s list leaned toward his former teammates.
The two-time champion certainly created a formidable unit. Regardless, it is difficult to overlook the absence of Kevin Durant from this lineup.
Durant’s tenure with Golden State may have been brief, but it is clear that it produced some of the most successful years of his career. His arrival effectively turned the Warriors into one of the best teams in NBA history, especially since he was paired with the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Immediately after joining the Warriors, Durant won his first title in 2017, earning Finals MVP honors and finishing ninth in regular-season MVP voting. For the 2016-17 season, he averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 53.7% shooting from the field.
The star forward followed up this performance with another title push in the 2018 Finals, earning his second Finals MVP in the process. For the 2017-18 season, he saw an increase in scoring output, too, as he averaged 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 51.6% shooting overall.
Durant’s dominance and efficiency during the regular season only carried over into the playoffs, where he became the pillar of Golden State’s offense. At the peak of his powers, he was virtually unstoppable, something even Draymond Green, one of the league’s top defenders, has acknowledged.
In this regard, McGee’s decision to pick Iguodala over Durant seems to be an odd one. While Iguodala was undoubtedly a crucial member in the Warriors’ rotation who helped in winning championships, it would be difficult to argue that he was a better overall player than Durant.
The justification for McGee’s decision is unknown. Speculation suggests that Durant’s messy exit from Golden State could have been a factor. Regardless, his role in establishing the dynasty cannot be overlooked.
Heading into his 18th season in the NBA, Durant will hope to cement his status as a champion again. Having joined a talented young team in the Houston Rockets, the 36-year-old will attempt to make the most of this opportunity and secure his third championship, his first outside of Golden State.
