McGee making the most of his limited minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Over the past three months, as he languished on the Warriors’ bench, center JaVale McGee exorcised his annoyance by seeking out post-practice games of 3-on-3 and running miles on the treadmill after games in which he did not play.
“I knew that if I did that,” McGee said, “I’d be ready when my time comes.”
After Tuesday night’s 129-99 loss to Utah, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr called McGee the “lone bright spot.” With Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) and Kevon Looney (illness) sidelined, McGee offered the Warriors an instant-energy big man off the bench, posting a season-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting, four rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes.
It was a feel-good development for a player who has endured the brunt of the league’s small-ball revolution. As the NBA trends toward versatile, mobile lineups that emphasize three-point shooting, the 7-foot, 270-pound McGee has largely fallen out of the rotation. His 4.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 8.1 minutes per game are career lows.
In the previous 10 games entering Tuesday, McGee logged seven DNPs and totaled 11 minutes. Instead of dwelling on his dwindling playing time, he stayed late after practice, worked on defending guards and forwards, and hoped that his professionalism would be rewarded with more minutes.
That opportunity came against a Utah frontcourt that boasts Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. With his teammates laboring, McGee provided a much-needed jolt. He threw down two alley-oop dunks, blocked an Alec Burks three-point try before finishing with a finger-roll layup on the other end, and had a highlightworthy steal for a dunk off an inbounds pass.
“I’m very proud of JaVale for the way he’s handled his time on the bench,” Kerr said. “He’s stayed ready. His energy has stayed good on the bench, cheering guys on. He may not like it, but he understands the situation.
“Things haven’t gone his way this year, and he showed tonight how professional he is by coming out there and playing a really good game.”
McGee was far from perfect. He had several defensive lapses, including a first-quarter sequence in which his decision to over-help led to an easy dunk by Gobert, and he airballed a three-point attempt.
That McGee capitalized on his first extended run in more than three weeks, however, should only motivate a player who has had a tough time building off his memorable 2016-17 season. It also could make him a more appealing asset at next week’s trade deadline.
The Chronicle confirmed last month that Golden State is open to trading McGee for a palatable offer. At 29, McGee is still an intriguing option for teams in need of frontcourt depth. He has at least a few years left of throwing down alley-oop dunks and swatting shots at a high level.
“I’m just trying to get better,” McGee said. “Even if I’m not playing, I’m still getting better and trying to grind.” Griffin reaction: The blockbuster trade that sent longtime Clippers forward Blake Griffin to the Pistons on Monday reinforced to the Warriors a sobering fact: In a league built on the realities of business, the notion of loyalty is a fraud.
It was only last summer that L.A.’s front office lavished Griffin with a fake jersey retirement and “Clipper4Life” promises before signing him to a five-year, $171 million deal — the NBA’s largest contract before it was eclipsed later in the offseason by Stephen Curry’s five-year, $201 million pact.
But when a slew of injuries dampened the Clippers’ season outlook, they changed course, shipping Griffin, Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to the Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and first- and secondround draft picks.
“When he signed, they did say he was going to be a ‘Clipper for life,’ ” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said after Tuesday night’s 129-99 loss to Utah. “We know those words don’t really mean anything as players.”