NBA News: JaVale McGee Takes His Talents To Surprising Team

Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee, after 16 years in the Association, has agreed to take his talent to Australia, signing with the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks.

REPORT: 16-year vet & 3-time NBA champion JaVale McGee has agreed to a one-year deal with the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks, per ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KYGhz0tq8V
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 1, 2025

McGee won back-to-back NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, then won another one as a part of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship team in 2020.

He last played in the NBA during the 2023-24 season as a member of the Sacramento Kings.

The 7-foot centre will now join the defending NBL champions.

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT KEEPS GETTING BETTER 😏

Three-time NBA Champion JaVale McGee has officially signed a one-year deal with the @illawarrahawks 👀

Read more via the NBL app. pic.twitter.com/rPwEVfzhSF
— NBL (@NBL) August 1, 2025

"Adding JaVale McGee to our program is a game-changer,” said Hawks General Manager Mat Campbell in a statement. “His leadership, athleticism, and championship mentality will elevate our group and energize the Illawarra community. The signing of JaVale reinforces the club’s commitment to sustained success and global recognition.”

The 37-year-old spent part of this past season with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico.

Although throughout his 16 seasons and 909 games in the NBA, McGee was often seen as a star on Shaquille O'Neal's 'Shaqtin A Fool' (for all the wrong reasons), the defensive center was a solid role player on some pretty good teams, and overall averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game across his career.