“I remember when I was playing for the Kings and I was captain at that stage and I had to pick up Acie\u00a0Earl<\/a>, who was her first round draft pick for the Boston Celtics<\/a> and I just remember thinking what a different size and type of guy he is and it really made me realise what the NBA is all about,” Rosen told basketball.com.au<\/a> today.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s what reminded me with McGee last night.<\/p>\n “His mobility, his passing and his read of the game was phenomenal. <\/p>\n “Once he gets his legs under him, he is going to be a massive force (although he already was last night).<\/p>\n “Also, his passing ability was phenomenal. You can see he\u2019s been in the Warriors<\/a> program that has Steph Curry<\/a> and Klay Thompson and just to be able to see the court and pass was great.”<\/p>\n All-NBL First Team member and new teammate Tyler Harvey can already see the potential for McGee to create opportunities for Illawarra on the offensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n “You read what the game presents,” Harvey said.<\/p>\n “If he\u2019s dominating inside, keep going there. It\u2019s not about me or anyone getting shots \u2014 it\u2019s about the highest-probability shot, and that\u2019s pretty high. <\/p>\n “Teams will have to double him eventually; then other opportunities open up. I don\u2019t care about my shots \u2014 I want to win. <\/p>\n “When a guy\u2019s going like that, give him the ball.”<\/p>\n McGee’s 32 points was just one shy of his NBA\u00a0career high of 33 in 2011. McGee has played more than 900 games in the NBA between 2008 and 2024.<\/p>\n The toughest part of his debut was the Tasmania JackJumpers spoiled the Illawarra Hawks’ championship banner night 91-86<\/a> at WIN Entertainment Centre.<\/p>\n Bryce Cotton, anytime he plays, is an MVP\u00a0favourite but his sixth Andrew Gaze trophy isn’t a lock this year if McGee continues to roll the way he did on Saturday night.<\/p>\n JaVale McGee’s NBL\u00a0Debut Shot Chart McGee has pedigree. His father is the 2.08m George Montgomery, who was a 1985 second-round draft selection by the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>. His mum, 1.91m Pamela McGee, who played for the University of Southern California with her twin sister, Paula, and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller. They won back-to-back NCAA Division I championships, in 1983 and 1984. Pamela also won an Olympic Games gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984. JaVale is the first son of a WNBA player to play in the NBA. But wait, there’s more. JaVale’s younger half-sister, Imani McGee-Stafford, played for the Chicago Sky<\/a> and the Atlanta Dream<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/68d855148812508818e3ac02_McGeeShotChart.jpg\")
Illawarra Hawks import and three-time NBA\u00a0champion went 15-from-20 from the field. All but one bucket came inside the paint. Graphic: NBL.com.au<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/68d87a046d9a6a4949ec8873_GettyImages-2237699474.jpg\")
JaVale McGee of the Hawks finishes at the basket during the round two NBL match between Illawarra Hawks and Tasmania Jackjumpers at WIN Entertainment Centre on September 27, 2025 in Wollongong. Photo: Mark Metcalfe\/Getty ImagesJaVale McGee Career Profile<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/68d87a71705ca88b14ab8b10_GettyImages-1229020225.jpg\")
JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo with the Larry O’Brien Trophy after winning Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on October 12, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at AdventHealth Arena. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty ImagesCareer Stats (Team Splits)Washington Wizards (2008\u201312): 255 GP \u2502 8.5 PTS \u2502 6.0 REB \u2502 1.8 BLK \u2502 FG% 52.6Denver Nuggets (2012\u201315, 2021): 134 GP \u2502 8.3 PTS \u2502 4.7 REB \u2502 1.7 BLK \u2502 FG% 56.7Golden State Warriors (2016\u201318): 142 GP \u2502 5.5 PTS \u2502 2.9 REB \u2502 0.9 BLK \u2502 FG% 63.9Los Angeles Lakers (2018\u201320): 143 GP \u2502 9.4 PTS \u2502 6.7 REB \u2502 1.7 BLK \u2502 FG% 62.8Phoenix Suns (2021\u201322): 74 GP \u2502 9.2 PTS \u2502 6.7 REB \u2502 1.1 BLK \u2502 FG% 62.9Dallas Mavericks (2015\u201316, 2022\u201323): 76 GP \u2502 4.7 PTS \u2502 3.2 REB \u2502 0.7 BLK \u2502 FG% 60.6Cleveland Cavaliers (2020\u201321): 33 GP \u2502 8.0 PTS \u2502 5.2 REB \u2502 1.2 BLK \u2502 FG% 52.1Philadelphia 76ers (2014\u201315): 6 GP \u2502 3.0 PTS \u2502 2.2 REB \u2502 FG% 44.4Sacramento Kings (2023\u201324): 46 GP \u2502 4.0 PTS \u2502 2.7 REB \u2502 0.4 BLK \u2502 FG% 59.8Team Performance<\/p>\n