JaVale McGee appeared in only one game (for three minutes) during the Western Conference Finals and, as a result, it would have been aggressive to expect the big man to contribute for the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has a reputation for interesting rotational decisions and, on cue, he inserted McGee into the proceedings for 1:04 in the first half.
While that 64-second stretch did not produce anything memorable, McGee returned to start the second half for Golden State and he didn’t disappoint. The always entertaining center helped to key a 10-3 run at the outset, scoring four points and producing a stunning defensive stop against LeBron James.
JaVale McGee, LeBron stopper https://t.co/ddNkByVvEI
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 1, 2018
From there, though, things went south with haste for McGee in the form of a hilarious mishap at the rim.
https://twitter.com/DimeUPROXX/status/1002377805039128577
For immediate induction to the Shaqtin' Hall of Fame: pic.twitter.com/LAt4BRzrqr
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 1, 2018
Immediately, the reactions poured in from around the basketball world and a few provided the visual evidence.
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/1002377978569986053
JaVale McGee missed this pic.twitter.com/aHQUiIqxdA
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 1, 2018
Still, there was plenty more where that came from, including some potentially sarcastic (though deserved) applause when he exited the game and in-arena chronicles of what the Warriors bench may or may not have been doing.
Not saying that the Warriors assume they're gonna win the title but their bench is still laughing at JaVale getting blocked by the rim
— ‘Miserable’ Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) June 1, 2018
JaVale just got a big applause after he checked out and I don't know if it's ironically or not
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 1, 2018
That is the most JaVale thing ever
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) June 1, 2018
Then, of course, it was time to get jokes off at an appropriate time.
That Javale McGee play is me in the drivethru at Chick fil A staring at the menu in a panic
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) June 1, 2018
And that’s what I call a Very Solid…oh no JaVale
— Leigh Ellis (@LeighEllis) June 1, 2018
JaVale with great defense against himself there
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) June 1, 2018
Ah yes, JaVale McGee, noted JaVale McGee-stopper
— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) June 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/HaleyOSomething/status/1002377307577712640
When they show that JaVale replay in the arena. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/us59srKGRE
— The Ringer (@ringer) June 1, 2018
Not everyone was ready to pile on, though.
https://twitter.com/DaveDuFourNBA/status/1002377648025292806
McGee was quite effective during his third quarter stint and that shouldn’t be lost. Still, it was perfectly on-brand for him to be involved in a meme-worthy play and this certainly qualified.