DJ COMMUNITY

JaVale McGee Responds to Cavs Player Saying He Isn't Smart Enough for NBA Finals

ALEC NATHAN

Noah Graham/Getty Images

Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee said Wednesday he wasn't bothered by an anonymous Cleveland Cavaliers player suggesting he isn't smart enough to be a factor in the NBA Finals.

"Nah, not at all," McGee said when asked if the statement rankled him, according to the Mercury News' Jimmy Durkin. "It’s an anonymous person. How can an anonymous person piss me off?

"It might not be disrespectful depending on who it’s coming from or it might not be real at all. If you’re not going to put your name on it, then why say it. But that’s even if it’s true (or) if the reporter was making it up just to stir some (stuff) up."

McGee's comments come a day after ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin relayed thoughts from an anonymous Cavs player on the The Basketball Analogy Show regarding the big man's readiness to perform on the game's biggest stage.

"I had a Cavs player disagree with your opinion of McGee, Brian," McMenamin said during a back-and-forth with ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. "He postulated to me that he doesn't even think McGee's gonna be able to get on the court or certainly not stay on the court because he doesn't think he's quote, unquote 'smart enough' to be able to play in this series."

On Wednesday, McGee said he doesn't mind people speaking up since they are fully within their rights to do so.

"I don’t silence nobody," he said. "They can say what they want. Freedom of speech, we’re in America, so say what you want."

McGee and the Warriors will hit the floor for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday night.