The three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee is one of the reinforcements called with Team USA, to replace Kevin Love in particular. A new formidable element (or not) is therefore added to the American armada. But beyond that, McGee’s arrival in this roster brought out the box of memories, with his mother winning Olympic gold with the United States in 1984.
JaVale McGee has a (very) unusual background. From mocked clown who entertains the gallery to triple NBA champion, there is only one step. But the crazy career of the great pivot does not stop there, since Here it is now in the Team USA roster for the Olympic Games. Just that. A great accomplishment for the Denver Nuggets player, but also certainly an unexpected dream that has just come true. Dressing in your country’s jersey is always special, but doing it after your own mother may be even more so. Pamela McGee, JaVale’s mother, indeed participated in several competitions with Team USA in the early 1980s, including Los Angeles Games in 1984, where she won Olympic gold. What to give ideas to the son, who is in the process of building a rather sturdy track record casually in his costume of role player. A few years ago, who would have seriously thought (while being totally sober of course) that JaVale McGee would be an Olympic athlete with the great American team, all after winning three NBA rings? The answer is simple: no one.
JaVale McGee will be one of the replacements for Team USA at the Olympics, per @wojspn.
McGee’s mother, Pamela, won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1984 Olympics.
Like mother, like son ???? pic.twitter.com/57FAxciHYZ
– ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2021
Like JaVale, it is in snowshoes that Pamela evolved with her 1m91. Following her Olympic experience, she notably passed through Brazil, Italy, France (yes yes) and finally the WNBA at the end of the 1990s. And since at the McGees, basketball is a matter of family, the story does not end there. Pam’s twin sister Paula was also a basketball player. The two sisters, closer than ever, even won two NCAA titles together, with USC and the famous Cheryl Miller. Paula was, moreover, on the verge of participating in the 1984 Games with her sister, before being cut. 37 years later, it is therefore the turn of Pamela’s son to represent his country in the most prestigious of international competitions. The McGees are therefore now known to be an Olympic family, which is rather rare and notable in the world of sport. JaVale is already in history by participating in these Games after his mother, but he can enter even more in the event of a gold medal. American sprinter Charlie Jenkins won Olympic gold in the 4 × 400-meter relay in 1956. 36 years later, his son, Charles “Chip” Jenkins was also Olympic champion in the same discipline. It was then the first time that a father and his son were sacred in the same ordeal. Furthermore, no son has won a gold medal after his mother, so JaVale has a great opportunity to make history if he manages to be sacred in Tokyo in a few weeks …
JaVale McGee has not ceased to amaze us. The 33-year-old hub is enjoying a crazy career, where absolutely anything and everything can happen. In the meantime, the short-lived Shaq for many years is a champion, on the verge of making history by wearing the American jersey after his mother… Just that!
