JaVale McGee Signs with Shanghai Sharks Alongside D'Angelo Russell

The Shanghai Sharks have secured JaVale McGee just days after announcing D'Angelo Russell's arrival, according to Eurohoops. The Chinese club, owned by Yao Ming, is stacking veteran NBA talent and positioning itself as a CBA championship contender.

A Resume with Three Rings

McGee arrives with credentials that are difficult to dispute in Chinese basketball: three NBA championships. The first two came with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and the third with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He was also part of the United States team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

His NBA career spanned sixteen seasons. After that came his international journey, which has been more eventful than usual: he played for the Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico in 2025, followed by the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian league, and last season ended with the Beijing Ducks.

Last Season's Performance

In Australia, he was a clear force: 19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 31 games, averaging 24.9 minutes. During his stint in China with Beijing, with less playing time, he posted 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 19 games at 14.9 minutes per contest.

These are numbers from a still-productive center at 38 years old, especially in a context like the CBA, where physical interior play continues to make a difference.

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Teammates at Last

The curiosity of this signing is that McGee and Russell had crossed paths before without ever sharing a locker room. According to ClutchPoints, the two both played for the Lakers, the Warriors, and the Mavericks at different times, never overlapping. It will be in Shanghai where they finally join forces.

The CBA as a Destination

This move is not isolated. The Chinese league has spent several offseasons pulling players out of the NBA with experience and name recognition, and Shanghai is now the clearest example: two significant signings in a matter of days. For veterans, it's a path with playing time, prominence, and competitive contracts; for Chinese clubs, it's a quick way to elevate roster quality.