The fans didn’t know this man. This 7-footer who would be recognizable to most seasoned NBA fans was near invisible to this crowd, even when his name was announced.
Instead, JaVale McGee stood before the Blizzard Arena, a TV studio-turned stadium in Burbank that hosts the Overwatch League, during halftime of a playoff game Friday between the Los Angeles Valiant and the London Spitfire. Fans clapped, but it almost felt more out of common courtesy than genuine excitement, a world away from the reception he’s likely to receive when his name is announced as a member of the Lakers on opening night.