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Golden State Warriors’ JaVale McGee gets Larry O’Brien trophy tattoo

By Carlos Murillo

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: JaVale McGee of the Golden State Warriors poses for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: JaVale McGee of the Golden State Warriors poses for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors’ JaVale McGee won his first championship and then celebrated by getting an awesome Larry O’Brien trophy tattoo.

The Golden State Warriors won their second championship in three years. For nearly every single guy on the team, there was a story about their journey to the title that made the whole celebration even more exciting. Of course, Kevin Durant outplaying LeBron James en route to his first ring and Finals MVP stole the show, but there were plenty of other Warriors with a great narrative.

Veteran David West also got his first one, after a long and impressive career in the league. Matt Barnes, a Warriors’ cult icon, won his first championship after joining the team well into the season. While the 2016-17 Warriors have many of historically great players, JaVale McGee turned himself into a fan favorite.

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McGee joined the team last summer. He was not guaranteed a spot on the team. McGee went out there during training camp and preseason and earned his spot.

Over the course of the year, the passionate Warriors fans fell in love with him. His energy off the bench was infectious for both the fans and the team. The pace and the excitement level increased when he checked into a game.

McGee had a bit of a controversy in the middle of the season. He and Shaquille O’Neal had some beef over the latter’s treatment of the Warriors’ center. O’Neal’s mockery of McGee is nothing new and the reserve center had enough and called the Hall of Famer out on it.

McGee’s main gripe was not unfair. There was and continues to be a perception of him that he’s unintelligent. His blunders on the basketball court were indicative of being uneducated or stupid.

He’s bounced around from team to team over the course of his career. Though he had some success with the Denver Nuggets, the Warriors finally gave him a place to flourish. He became a key member of one of the greatest teams of all-time.

Despite being a rotation player for most of the season and postseason, Steve Kerr made the decision to use David West as his primary center off the bench in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. McGee wasn’t on the floor for the Warriors’ title-clinching victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that didn’t change anything. He was a champion.

McGee has celebrated, as he should. Like Durant, he hosted his own personal parade in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. He then celebrated in a more personal way.

JaVale McGee got the Larry O’Brien trophy tattooed on himself. It looks, relatively, small. As a tattoo enthusiast, I can say that it’s really awesome ink.

McGee’s artist did a great job. The shading is amazing and really captures the trophy’s beauty. The lines are extremely sharp. Whoever McGee’s artist is, that person deserved a sizeable tip.

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The Warriors brought back the center for another run at the trophy. No matter what happens, McGee will always be a champion. That tattoo serves as a permanent reminds (you know…if he doesn’t want to wear his ring all the time).

McGee’s tattoo might get lonely so, just to be safe, he should secure another one of those things.

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