JaVale McGee's Mother Says He's The Future Of The NBA

Talented Wizards center JaVale McGee has faced some criticism over the past week following an off-the-backboard dunk he threw himself despite the Wizards 1-12 record at the time. Yesterday, his mother defended his actions, according to the Washington Post.

“He is not a knucklehead,” Pamela McGee told the Post. “JaVale is a good kid. My son is special. He has gifts you can’t teach: hands, height and heart. If I’m the Wizards and I’m really trying to build a franchise, really committed to rebuilding and developing, I would nurture that talent. I would help a kid like JaVale the best I could.”

“I know people are making a big deal of that play,” she continued. “Look, JaVale does that to break up the monotony. Wouldn’t you if you were losing like this? He’s been here for four years and it’s been same ol’, same ol’. I don’t want him to get institutionalized to losing. My son is the future of the NBA. I don’t want him to be part of this culture of losing forever.”

McGee’s mother played two seasons in the WNBA in 1997 and 1998. His father was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985 but never played in an NBA game.