Former Mavericks 7-footer's NBA journey looks like it's over for good

It is without question that the Dallas Mavericks head into next season with one of the top frontcourts in the entire NBA. Rookie Cooper Flagg joins an elite big man group centered around Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford. Lively II and Gafford create a two-headed monster down low, as the team signed Gafford to an extension this past offseason.

Gafford and Lively II give the Mavs stability at the center position, something they hadn't had before they traded for Gafford in 2024. If you recall, Dallas struggled to find consistency at the five spot, as they went through various players before drafting Lively II. Some notable past names to play the center position include Dwight Powell (still on the team), Christian Wood, and JaVale McGee.

McGee played 16 seasons in the NBA, as he had two different stints with Dallas. He was a contributor on the Mavs' 2016 team that made the playoffs. McGee also won three NBA Championships during his time, as he was a solid veteran off the bench. His time in the league, though, may be coming to an end as he signed a one-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL.

JaVale McGee hints that his NBA career is done

McGee's recent move to the NBL highlights the harsh reality and the hard truth. Most NBA players who play overseas in their late 30s are nearing the end of their careers and hardly make a return to the league. This will likely be the same scenario for McGee, as he missed the entire 2024-25 season after going unsigned.

One prime example of this situation is newly inducted Hall of Famer Dwight Howard. He last played in the league during the 2021-22 season, after his third stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Soon after, he signed with the Taoyuan Leopards from Taiwan. He then joined various other international clubs, such as the Mets de Guaynabo, but bounced around various exhibition teams before calling it quits.

So, the harsh reality is that it's hard to make an NBA comeback after joining teams overseas. McGee will be no different, as he struggled during his last season in the league. He last played for the Sacramento Kings during the 2023-24 season, as he averaged 7.4 minutes per game and scored four points per game, while averaging 2.7 rebounds.

McGee was already on the decline in his final seasons, and he struggled to replicate his career averages. He has a career average of 7.6 points per game and five rebounds.

Before playing for the Kings, he had a second stint with the Mavericks, where he too struggled. McGee averaged four points and 2.5 rebounds in 42 games with Dallas. His numbers again proved his time was coming to an end. It was only a matter of time before McGee jumped overseas and contemplated the end of his career.

Moving forward, the Mavericks organization can only thank him for his two seasons in Dallas, and they shouldn't even consider bringing him back. Even if McGee seemed to regret his second time with the team, Mavs fans can only replay his memories. His basketball time may not be officially over, but his tenure in the league might be.