Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down the battle at center

Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down the battle at center between Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 4: JaVale McGee (7) of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for the dunk during a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 4, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

JaVale McGee

McGee played one of his best seasons with the Lakers last year, averaging a career-high 12 points with 7.5 rebounds and two blocks in 75 outings. Through the 2018-19 term, he started the most games in a single campaign (62) since 2010-11 with the Washington Wizards (75).

In the past, McGee has been known for his on-court blunders, thanks in part to TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal‘s Shaqtin a Fool segments, but he became a solid contributor at center in 22.3 minutes per game in Los Angeles. We should no longer view him as a comedy act.

McGee’s flashes in the previous season may help him hold on to the starting spot over Howard, who missed nearly the entire 2018-19 campaign. Within the starting group, it’s better for coaches to rely on a proven constant than the unexpected.

Similar to Howard, McGee can finish close to the rim, crash the boards and defend the paint, but he has more recent proof of his abilities. Why would the Lakers stop his momentum for a newcomer unless they saw a significant talent margin between the two?

McGee may still have more of what he showed last year in store for the Lakers. He’s also two years younger than Howard.

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