JaVale McGee is going to Tokyo? JaVale McGee is going to Tokyo.
To be selected as one of the 12 basketball players to play for Team USA in the Olympics is one the biggest honors any athlete can achieve. Being on the select team is impressive in itself but being one of the members fighting for the Gold is an entirely different accolade. As Covid-19 continues to influence the roster, Coach Popovich along with Grant Hill and Jerry Colangelo have done their due diligence in shaping a roster that gives them the best chance to win.
Players such as Kevin Love, Bradley Beal have already been told they will not be able to travel with team to Tokyo and as of today (July 19th) Zach LaVine has entered the health and safety protocols.
JaVale McGee was the big man chosen by the front office to in a sense replace Kevin Love at the center position. A common fan would laugh and snarl at this decision but looking closely at it, the addition of McGee makes sense.
At one the point the star of Shaqtin-A-Fool, McGee turned himself into a formidable player and a 3-time NBA champion. He won two rings with the Warriors and another one in the bubble with the Lakers.
The rules of FIBA are much different than the NBA and this is where McGee can have an impact and possibly a reason Team USA saw him as a good fit. McGee has been known to make hilariously bad plays in his past but some of these play are now completely legal.
The FIBA rules allows players to knock the ball off the cylinder before it falls into the hoop. This seems like a dream come true for JaVale. The length and athleticism of McGee could really shine in short spurts for Team USA as his once illegal goaltends are now encouraged.
His shot-blocking could also be a key asset for the Americans as he is easily the tallest player on the team. McGee can run the floor and is also not dependent of his offensive game to get him going. This version of Team USA has a ton of fire power on the offensive end so bringing in a more hustle, dirty work type of player like McGee was smarter than one might think. Look for JaVale to make an impact for Team USA in Tokyo as they pursue yet another Gold Medal
Zach Blaine 