1. He’ll provide some comic relief
Let’s face it, being a Laker fan can be stressful. When your team has won 16 world championships and now features LeBron James, expectations are high. Whenever they lose in the playoffs or go through a losing streak or slump, the tension gets thick and Laker Nation is in a bad mood.
That’s when it’s important to remember that above all, it’s just a game. Having a court jester like JaVale McGee who has been the centerpiece of Shaqtin’ A Fool since its debut will help us laugh off those tough losses and above all enjoy this season.
Aside from his undeniable talents and skills that will surely help the Lakers become relevant again, McGee is a somewhat uncoordinated and loutish guy. At times, he will do things on the basketball court that will have us in stitches and wondering if he has his head screwed on right.
His antics have included, but have not been limited to, running to the other end on defense when his own team grabbed an offensive rebound, blowing wide open dunks and layups by a mile, trying to inbound the ball while standing inbounds and simply stumblin’ and bumblin’ at weird times.
Almost makes you wonder if he should’ve been a Harlem Globetrotter instead of an NBA player.
As long as none of this actually happens in crunch time and costs us a game, it will be a nice antidote to the inevitable circus that will follow this team and wait for them to fail or for there to be some discord within the team.
JaVale McGee is the kind of lovable guy who will remind us that it’s OK to smile and laugh at ourselves sometimes. But he isn’t just the weirdo who is also the unofficial mayor of Shaqtin’ A Fool. He’s also a two-time NBA world champion, a true defensive center and a grizzled, proven vet, and now he’s playing for our Los Angeles Lakers.