Kings’ JaVale McGee speaks on philosophy, physicality, leadership and lighting the beam

JaVale McGee has a philosophy when it comes to defense.

“Stop the other team from scoring,” he said. “That’s my philosophy.”

McGee, a three-time NBA champion, has brought a no-nonsense approach, a veteran voice and an unmistakable presence to training camp as the Kings prepare to play the Toronto Raptors in their preseason opener Sunday in Vancouver.

Coach Mike Brown is urging his team to adopt a more physical style of play after the Kings came up short in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors last season. One player who needs no urging is McGee, a 7-foot-tall, 270-pound center with 15 years of NBA experience.

“JaVale’s been in multiple Finals so he understands what it takes to play at that level,” Brown said. “… His length, his size — he’s not just long and skinny. He’s a grown-ass man, if I can say that. He’s big across the chest. He’s got broad shoulders. He’s long and athletic, and he knows how to play, so adding that to our team is going to give us a different look compared to what we had last year.”

McGee provided one of the best soundbites over the first few days of training camp when asked about the purple victory beam that lights up the sky over Golden 1 Center every time the Kings win a game.

“As an outsider, I hated it,” McGee said. “I remember last year I was with Dallas and I’d do the huddle right before the game, and the last thing I would say … excuse my language, is f--- that beam. Because we don’t want them to light it, because if they light it, that means you won, so we were trying to come in here and get a win. But being on the opposite side of actually lighting the beam, you know that’s exactly what I’m saying: ‘Let’s light that motherf---ing beam.’”

How McGee became a King

Sacramento was in the final stages of assembling its training camp roster when McGee became available after being waived by the Dallas Mavericks in late August. The Kings had already re-signed backup center Alex Len on a guaranteed $3.2 million contract while bringing back Neemias Queta and adding Nerlens Noel, both on partially guaranteed deals.

When McGee cleared waivers, the Kings signed him to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. They subsequently waived Queta and Noel, giving them a chance to pursue other opportunities.

“I think it was pretty simply that we didn’t expect a free agent of (McGee’s) caliber to come available at that time,” Kings general manager Monte McNair said. “When he did, we were able to secure him. Coach Brown and some of our other coaches who have history with him was certainly a big part of that. I think that our winning is a big part of it. Winning brings players in, you know, and we wanted to give both Nerlens and Neemie a chance — with Alex already on the roster as well and a guaranteed contract — to catch on elsewhere.”

McGee spent two seasons with the Warriors when Brown was serving as coach Steve Kerr’s lead assistant. Together, they helped the Warriors win back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. McGee also won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and a gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

McGee said “one of the top deciding factors” in his decision to sign with Sacramento was the presence of Brown, who was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Kings to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season.

“Just the comfortability I have with him,” McGee said. “… Being able to just call your coach and really have a serious conversation, knowing that your coach isn’t going to (BS) you and he’s going to tell you what it really is. I’ve always had that in Mike Brown, so that was definitely a helpful thing that got me here.”

Force and physicality

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said McGee’s force and physicality is already showing up in practice as he competes for a backup role behind All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis.

“He’s a big guy,” Fox said. “He’s standing at the rim and he’s such a shot blocking presence. Even if you don’t think he’s going to block your shot, there are times he gets to the ball and you’re looking like how the hell did you (do that)? He had a goaltend today (at practice) that was crazy and it was off a second jump. He jumped the first time, I think it might have been (against) Sasha (Vezenkov). He jumped the first time and then Sasha tried to get it over him, and he caught it. It was crazy. It was a goaltend, but it was crazy. His presence is definitely felt both physically and verbally.”

Kings forward Harrison Barnes agreed.

“JaVale is making his presence known on the defensive end, on the offensive end, just playing above the rim,” Barnes said. “Defensively, obviously, he covers so much ground. He’s been in this league a while. He can talk, communicate with guys, kind of be that anchor for us, so he’s been great.”

Full circle

McGee has followed in the footsteps of his mother, former Sacramento Monarchs forward/center and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Pamela McGee, in more ways than one.

“It’s just crazy, man. My mother was in the Olympics, won a gold medal. I was also,” McGee said. “She played for the L.A. Sparks. I played for the Lakers. And now I’m playing for the Kings and she played for the Monarchs. It’s just full circle.

“It’s like I’m following right in her footsteps and it’s a beautiful thing. I’m just honored for her to be my mother and show me the way to where, now, I’m stepping into it and I don’t feel brand new to it. I was in fifth grade when she was playing here, so I was actually in school. I had friends in school. I lived here. It’s full circle, like I said, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

Welcome to Sacramento

McGee’s new teammates have made him feel right at home in Sacramento.

Sabonis said: “He’s vocal. He’s a champion. He’s been through a lot and having a guy like that, with his game and a lot of versatility and everything he can bring for us, it’s going to be huge.

Len called McGee a “great dude.”

“I’ve been around him a couple days,” Len said. “He’s super funny, easy going, fun to be around, and I think he brings a lot. He won a championship before, so he’s got that experience he can bring to us, and I’m looking forward to going to battle with him.”