JaVale McGee’s NBA career spans over 16 seasons, three championships, and countless highlight-worthy blocks and dunks. But for years, one narrative overshadowed his accomplishments: the idea that he was a “dumb” player. Now, McGee is speaking out about how that label was manufactured, and how it nearly derailed his career.
In a recent interview, McGee addressed the long-standing impact of being the face of “Shaqtin’ a Fool,” the blooper segment on TNT’s Inside the NBA that often featured his on-court mistakes.
“Fans think it’s real, like that’s real life, and they think I’m a dumb person,” McGee said. “It’s just really disappointing that grown men, 50, 40-year-olds, are having America’s Funniest Home Videos of a player. And then making it a hashtag and really just trying to ruin someone’s career over basketball mistakes.”
McGee’s frustration wasn’t just about being laughed at, it was about how the jokes became his identity. He recalled moments when strangers mocked him in public, and kids would shout “Shaqtin’!” instead of recognizing his actual contributions on the court.
“There’s this one game. I had one bad play. I had 15 points, six blocks. But y’all didn’t show none of that,” he said. “People were like, ‘Oh, he’s horrible. Why is he even in the league?’”
JaVale McGee didn’t realize people actually think he is dumb
“I didn’t understand how strong the media was and that people actually took it serious… people really think I’m really bad — they don’t think I’m a good player.”
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The perception stuck, even as McGee evolved into a reliable role player and defensive anchor for championship teams like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. He credits his turnaround to perseverance and finding organizations that valued his skill set beyond the memes.
“The biggest misconception was that I was dumb. I didn’t understand how strong the media was and that people actually took it seriously. That was when it messed me up.”
McGee’s story is a cautionary tale about how media narratives, especially humorous ones, can distort public perception and affect real careers.
