ESPN.com and their TrueHoop Network have ranked the players of the NBA and releasing their rankings on twitter ( @NBAonESPN), from number 500 o number 1. They have finally broke into the top 100 players and have ranked JaVale McGee, center for the Denver Nuggets, at #77.
McGee, formerly of the Washington Wizards, came to Denver originally as part of a trade that sent Nene to Washington and McGee to Denver along with cap relief to re-sign Wilson Chandler.
Although, it seemed off to take on a player that was notable for being a league laughingstock, as well as, making boneheaded plays such as running down the court in the wrong direction, but in certain circumstances all it takes is a new team, a new environment, a new coach to set the tone. A new winning environment to rear a “confused” player down the right path, and that’s what was displayed with McGee in Denver last season.
Especially his two games, Game 3 and 5, in the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals that was extended to seven games with the Los Angeles Lakers.
McGee was ranked #99 last season and improved 22 places, and one must think that has a great deal to do with his production in his debut in a playoff series, as well as his improvement in Denver. Although, the sample size was small — McGee played in 20 games with the Nuggets — for Denver, the general thought in the NBA that a young and athletic player such as McGee is a player that you want to retain and build with. He has all the potential in the world and Denver’s confidence was evident when the re-signed him over the summer.
Denver is building a nice core with Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson and now McGee is in the mix; the Nuggets are going to be a delight with their explosive up-tempo offense in 2012-2013 and just for good measure they look to be a team that wants to improve their defense as Andre Iguodala is a part of the team now.
The Nuggets will look to titillate the senses of NBA enthusiasts this season.
