Nov 7, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) dunks the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Last season was an injury-ridden nightmare for the Denver Nuggets, and unfortunately, JaVale McGee was one of the players who missed the majority of the year. McGee suffered a leg injury last November, and what was originally thought to be a stress injury in his tibia turned out to be a fracture. He underwent surgery to repair the injury in late-February of this year, and the franchise is hoping he’ll be ready to go when the 2014-15 NBA season begins.
McGee recently posted a video on Instagram that shows the fun-loving center is refusing to let anything hold him back from making a full recovery, including gravity:
In the video, McGee can be seen running on the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill. According to the manufacturer’s website, the AlterG uses “exclusive, NASA-patented Differential Air Pressure unweighting technology” to allow individuals recovering from injuries to accelerate their rehabilitation and minimize recovery times. The treadmill allows users to walk or run with minimum impact by reducing “gravity’s impact.” An athlete can choose to reduce that impact by 20% to 100% of his or her body weight, reducing stress on joints and providing the confidence to exercise rigorously without risking re-injury.
It’s great to see JaVale McGee getting after it in the offseason. He’s famously one of the more free-spirited players in the NBA, so it’s reassuring to learn he’s willing to put in the work required to bounce back from the injury. The Nuggets will need a healthy McGee next year to return to playoff-form. So let’s hope he continues to push himself during the offseason and do whatever it takes to be ready when the season rolls around, gravity be damned!