After a short tenure with the Dallas Mavericks a season ago, new Sacramento Kings C JaVale McGee is looking to change the narrative entering his 16th career season in the NBA. Eyeing the crucial role of being a locker room leader and mentor, this season in Sac-Town should be a refreshing one in hopes of being a essential part of what can be a championship-level team.
However, things did not look quite as glamorous last year with Dallas. He appeared in only 42 regular season games for 2022-23, averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. Eventually, McGee was cut this past August after signing a multi-year contract with the franchise in the prior offseason.
McGee was questioned about what might have gone wrong during his time with the Mavericks, attributing the eventual summer split as both parties simply going separate ways, via FOX40 Sports:
“It was just separate ways, that’s all it really was. There was no real reason that I can pinpoint to why. It just didn’t work out. I’m never a person that really dwells on why this didn’t happen. I’m more looking to the future as in, maybe it was supposed to happen, maybe it was meant to be. Maybe I was supposed to sign that contract to go there then end up here and win my fourth championship. You never know."
With the gloomy days in Dallas behind us, McGee can now be refreshed and focused on his new mission with Sacramento to pursue another championship ring. With prior experience as a 3x NBA Finals winner with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, he provides the necessary experience and presence this Kings team needs to take the next jump in prestige.
Closing in on three weeks until the start of the regular season, McGee looks to continue to bring the spark of energy to Sacramento necessary to reach their championship aspirations.
More must-reads: