JaVale McGee family has an impressive sports background. McGee last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
JaVale was born on January 19, 1988, to his dad, George Montgomery, and mom, Pamela McGee, in Flint, Michigan.
JaVale McGee was chosen as the 18th overall pick by the Washington Wizards during the 2008 NBA draft.
He has achieved the remarkable feat of being a three-time NBA champion, securing back-to-back titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and earning a third championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
His mother, Pamela McGee, is an Olympic gold medalist, and JaVale himself earned a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.
JaVale McGee Family Has An Athletic Lineage
JaVale McGee family has an impressive sports background. His father, George Montgomery, stood at a towering height of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters) and was a second-round draft pick for the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985, although he didn’t end up playing for the team.
On the other hand, his mother, Pamela, is a notable figure in women’s basketball.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters), she was a standout player for the University of Southern California, where she played alongside her twin sister, Paula, and the legendary Cheryl Miller.
Together, they won two NCAA Division I championships in 1983 and 1984, following two Michigan state championships at Northern Flint High School.
Pamela also earned an Olympic gold medal in 1984 and was drafted in the 1997 WNBA draft by the Sacramento Monarchs. She played for both the Monarchs and the Los Angeles Sparks during her career.
What’s even more unique is that JaVale McGee is the first son of a WNBA player to make it to the NBA.
His younger half-sister, Imani McGee-Stafford, also has a career in professional basketball, previously playing in the WNBA for both the Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream.
Pamela, who holds a degree in economics, remarkably managed her international basketball career while also raising her children, homeschooling, coaching, and teaching during the offseason, although her balancing act wasn’t without its share of controversy.
Additionally, JaVale McGee is cousins with former NFL defensive end Jarron Gilbert.
Mom Pamela McGee
Pamela Denise McGee, born on December 1, 1962, is a distinguished Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member.
McGee’s upbringing took place in Flint, Michigan, where she attended Flint Southwestern Academy before completing her high school education at Flint Northern High School.
At Northern High School, she achieved Academic All-American status and excelled in both women’s basketball and women’s track and field, clinching two consecutive state championships in each sport.
In track and field, she even set the state record in shot put, showcasing her exceptional athleticism.
Notably, she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Parade All-American game, featuring the nation’s top high school players.
Following her high school success, McGee continued to shine in her basketball career, securing consecutive NCAA Championships as an All-American while playing for the University of Southern California.
During her college tenure, she was a teammate of her twin sister Paula and basketball legends Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Miller.
Pamela was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs. With Javale headed to the Kings, they will both have played for Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Team USA.
Dad George Montgomery
JaVale’s father, George Montgomery, was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 26, 1962.
He showcased his basketball talents while competing at the University of Illinois.
Despite being selected in the second round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, he did not go on to play in the NBA.
