Ever heard of the famous African-American basketball player who was nearly aborted by his single mother? JaVale McGee, the basketball superstar who is presently making waves in the Golden State Warriors is the guy you are looking for. With an abortion appointment scheduled in 48 hours, JaVale’s mother went to the house of God to seek comfort, but her religious convictions changed her life and after listening to the preacher’s sermon about life being a precious gift from God, she changed her mind about the abortion.
JaVale McGee Biography
JaVale McGee, the basketball expert was born on the 19th day of January 1988 in Flint Michigan. The African-American baller studied at Providence Christian High School and Detroit Country Day School before moving over to Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago. He has been active in basketball since college but declared for the NBA draft in 2008 after his university campaign where he performed really well. Before then, the budding basketballer was selected 18th by the Washington Wizards. On the 6th of January 2011, JaVale participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest of 2011 and made the record as the first player in a dunk contest to use three balls at once which earned him a spot on the Guinness Book of Record for most basketballs dunked in a jump.
Since then, JaVale McGee has played for several teams which include; Washington Wizards (2008–2012). Denver Nuggets (2012–2015), Philadelphia 76ers (2015), Dallas Mavericks (2015–2016), and Golden State Warriors (2016–present). Consecutively, in 2009 and 2010, the famous basketball player received invites to the Men’s National Basketball Team’s mini-camp in the United States. He has also shown an interest in the Philippine basketball team.
Mom, Father, Sister, Wife
JaVale McGee was born to George Montgomery’s father and Pamela McGee’s mother. His father George who stands at a height of 6 feet 10 inches was once drafted to play for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 second-round draft. Unfortunately, George did not play for the team but JaVale’s mother Pamela whose height is measured at 6 feet 3 inches was an active basketballer right from the University of Southern California where she played actively along with her twin sister Paula. During her active years in the game, Pamela played for several teams which include; Los Angeles Sparks, Sacramento Monarchs and she has played in countries like Brazil Italy, and France. She won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
His mother’s stint in the WNBA made JaVale McGee stand out as the first son of a WNBA player ever to be drafted into the NBA. Imani McGee-Stafford JaVale’s younger half-sister who stands at a height of 6 feet 7 inches is also active in the WNBA for the Atlanta Dream Team. It happened that when Pamela was pregnant with her son JaVale she nearly had an abortion since JaVale’s father was no longer part of her life, but she changed her mind after listening to a preacher’s sermon about life being a precious gift.
On that fateful day when JaVale McGee was successfully drafted by the Wizards during the first round of the NBA draft in 2008, Pamela could only bask in the glory of her decision against having an abortion when she was pregnant with him. Since then, Pamela has been JaVale’s pillar, guiding his career in her capacity as his financial manager. According to Pamela, JaVale is her greatest blessing and accomplishment.
Married life did not favour Pamela because she found herself locked in a very publicized custody battle with her husband of two years -Reverend Kevin Stafford, whom she had just gotten divorced from. The bitter custody battle was over JaVale’s half-sister Imani. Pamela’s ex-husband was of the view that Pamela’s profession demands that she embarks on a lot of travelling which will not allow her to take care of their daughter properly and the courts granted Kelvin custody, this left Pamela and JaVale with nothing and they had to start from the scratch.
Pamela was diagnosed with cancer in the past but in 2000, she managed to win the battle against breast cancer and presently, she is in complete remission and according to her, she does not want to recount how long she had battled with cancer, she is healthy now and that is all that matters. Presently, she is preoccupied with her son’s future and life after basketball.
Apart from his profession, JaVale McGee has a family of his own. He and his beautiful girlfriend Giselle Ramirez has already welcomed their first child to the world. JaVale’s baby mama is into real estate and it is through her job that she met JaVale. It was recorded in the LA Times that Marc Anthony’s home that was sold for the sum of $2.425 million was bought by JaVale and Giselle was the real estate agent who represented the buyer in the sale. Giselle studied at the University of California Los Angeles where she bagged two degrees.
For now, the basketball champ has no wife as he is yet to tie the knot with his girlfriend.
Height, Weight
The basketball superstar stands at a height of 7 feet or 2.13 m and has a bodyweight of 114 kg or 251.33 lbs to go with the intimidating height. The records have it that out of all current NBA players, JaVale had the largest documented arm span recorded at 7 ft 6.5 in or 2.30 m until Rudy Gobert was drafted into the Nuggets with a wider arm span of 7 ft 8.5 in or 2.35 m during the NBA draft of 2013.
JaVale McGee Net Worth
The pro basketballer has a handsome net worth of $14 million and his annual salary is tagged at $1,471,382. His admirable net worth was accrued from his annual salary and the deal which he signed with several clubs he has played for in the past.
