They need to run this play for JaVale McGee in the regular season ? pic.twitter.com/v8haT2COd3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 17, 2019
The Lakers waxed the Warriors 126-93 in Wednesday’s preseason game. Former Warrior JaVale McGee added insult to seemingly fake injury with a cheeky play early in the second half.
McGee, now a member of the Lakers, appeared to fake a leg injury after getting tangled up while rolling to the basket. As McGee seemingly hunched over in pain behind the hoop, he suddenly sprung to life, running back on the court to catch a lob for an easy dunk. Both Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell looked on perplexed.
Thanks to a loophole in the rulebook this play is technically legal. A player is not allowed to leave the court without returning immediately, with the only exception being if that player has sustained an injury. Because the officials can’t determine whether a player is faking an injury or not, McGee is given the benefit of the doubt on a play like this.
If McGee tries to pull a similar stunt during a regular season game, the NBA might want to look at tweaking that rule. Until that happens, this play stands as a lighthearted moment in a meaningless game.