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Golden State Warriors 10 best moments from Game 1

By Carlos Murillo

Jun 1, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 1, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee (1) during game one of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

JaVale McGee gets free

Before the season started, JaVale McGee wasn’t guaranteed a spot on the team. Once the season started, he wasn’t guaranteed a regular role. Then once the postseason started, those questions intensified.

JaVale McGee doesn’t get the level of appreciation that he deserves. After a public feud with Shaquille O’Neal during the season, he went petty and it was awesome. The Warriors’ center showed up to Game 1 in a hat that said “Shaq” across the front. Amazing.

In the days leading up to the game, news broke that an “unnamed” Cavaliers player said he thought McGee wasn’t “smart enough” to play in the NBA Finals. He heard it and brushed it off.

After becoming a journeyman of sorts and a laughingstock thanks to O’Neal’s show, McGee finally got his shot. He stepped onto an NBA floor with his minimum contract and outplayed the $82 million Tristan Thompson in a fraction of the minutes. Mike Brown let him be free and it was fun.

Check out this dunk.

JaVale McGee may not be a rocket scientist. He definitely does some silly things on the basketball court. He is smart enough to know that the Cavaliers were not playing any kind of defense yesterday.

McGee is sure smart enough to dunk all over Cleveland. He’s smart enough to come off the bench and grab four rebounds and score four points while the Cavs’ starting center grabbed four rebounds and didn’t score. That doesn’t seem bad for McGee.

He’s one of those guys that you just root for. After not being able to really find a home throughout his career, it’s nice that he’s been able to fit in with Golden State. And he really has fit wonderfully with the culture while elevating them by providing another element.

JaVale dunks are nice.

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