Wizards felt disrespected by JaVale McGee’s late three-pointer
The Washington Wizards were not at all pleased with Golden State Warriors big man JaVale McGee’s antics at the end of Sunday’s game.
Instead of dribbling out the clock on the Warriors’ final possession of the 139-115 win over the Wizards, McGee instead chose to launch a corner three. He missed on the attempt but drew three free throws as he was shoved out of bounds by Brandon Jennings, who was called for a flagrant foul.
Brandon Jennings didn't appreciate JaVale McGee taking a three at the end of the game and shoved him out of bounds for it. pic.twitter.com/d3k6SqNyT5
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 3, 2017
Jennings and fellow Wizards guard John Wall commented on it after the game with Wall calling McGee’s shot disrespectful, per Chris Haynes of ESPN.
Brandon Jennings on hacking McGee on late three: "He better be lucky he shot that three and didn't go to the rack…would have been worst."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 3, 2017
John Wall was asked if it was disrespectful for JaVale McGee to be shooting that three late while holding big lead. "Yep, totally agree."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 3, 2017
John Wall on McGee's 3-point shot. "Whenever a team is up like that, supposedly, you just hold the ball and take a shot clock violation."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 3, 2017
Jennings added that he also felt slighted by Draymond Green staying in the game to get a triple-double (and ultimately succeeding), per Candace Buckner of the Washington Post.
Brandon Jennings also didn't like how Draymond Green stayed in the game to get a triple double.
"I just felt it was disrespectful."— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) April 3, 2017
However, McGee himself was in a joking mood when he was asked about the attempt in the locker room, per Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News.
JaVale McGee explains why he took the late 3, thanks Brandon Jennings for making his air all not look as bad by pushing him pic.twitter.com/U5k5FGsVzj
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 3, 2017
For his part though, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in his post-game press conference that he wasn’t happy with McGee’s shot and apologized to Wizards head coach Scott Brooks, per Monte Poole of Comcast SportsNet.
Steve Kerr didn't like JaVale's late-game 3, which prompted flagrant-1 by Brandon Jennings. Kerr apologized to Wizards coach Scott Brooks.
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 3, 2017
Of course, McGee is known as quite the character on the court, so it’s hardly surprising that he found himself mired in a controversy of this nature.