Javale McGee, a three-time NBA champion, is set for a new chapter with the Illawarra Hawks of Australia’s NBL. He admits he’s embracing an experience he long envied.
“I always had a hint of jealousy towards the European players,” McGee told the Geelong Advertiser. “They get to go to different countries and really explore. I never really had that opportunity, so when this opportunity came up to come to Australia … I jumped straight on it.”
The 37-year-old center last appeared in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings during the 2023–24 season, averaging 4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 46 games while shooting 60 percent from the field. He later joined Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico’s BSN league, where he added another championship to his résumé.
McGee, who won NBA titles between 2017 and 2020, now shifts his focus to extending his career overseas, bringing veteran experience and a global outlook to Illawarra.