Why Did JaVale Return to Warriors? Bob Myers: ‘What It Came Down to…'

For a couple weeks in July, it looked like JaVale McGee would not be back with the Warriors for the 2017-18 season.

But the big man eventually elected to re-sign with the world champs.

What was the pitch to get JaVale to stay in the Bay Area?

"Not everybody can get exactly what they want -- whether that's playing time or money," Warriors GM Bob Myers told Damon Bruce on 95.7 The Game. "In talking to JaVale, he loved the role he had. He loved our players. He loves playing for Coach Kerr.

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"He was great for us. He gave us something nobody else did. It's what we call vertical spacing ... catching a lob and dunking it -- he's one of the best in the league at that. He got better defensively."

McGee averaged 9.6 minutes over 77 games (10 starts) last season -- registering 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting over 65 percent from the field.

In the playoffs, he scored at least 12 points four times -- including 16 points in Game 3 against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

The 29-year old tested the free-agent waters, and believed his play last year earned him more minutes and money.

But apparently, his services were not in high demand. And he will make the veteran minimum -- $2,116,955 -- next year.

"I think what it came down to was -- he surveyed the market and what he came to the conclusion of is he liked what we were," Myers explained. "And I guess going for another championship was compelling for him.

"We were certainly thrilled that he decided to come back and (he) gives us another weapon."

And now that McGee and Kevin Durant will be teammates again, perhaps they will produce some tracks together...

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders and a Web Producer at NBC Sports Bay Area. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller

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