Pamela McGee facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | December 1, 1962 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
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| High school | Flint Northern (Flint, Michigan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | USC (1980–1984) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1984–1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Dallas Diamonds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Sacramento Monarchs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Los Angeles Sparks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pamela Denise McGee (born December 1, 1962) is a famous American former professional basketball player. She won a gold medal at the Olympics and is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Pamela is also special because she is the mother of two other professional basketball players: JaVale McGee, who plays in the NBA, and Imani McGee-Stafford, who plays in the WNBL.
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Early Life and High School Success
Pamela McGee grew up in Flint, Michigan. She went to Flint Northern High School, where she was excellent in both sports and academics. She won two state championships in a row in women's basketball and women's track. She even set a state record in the shotput in track and field! Pamela was also named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Parade All-American game, which features the best young players in the country.
After high school, Pamela played basketball at the University of Southern California (USC). There, she won two NCAA Championships in a row. She was also named an All-American. Her teammates at USC included her twin sister Paula, Cynthia Cooper, and Cheryl Miller.
Playing for Team USA
Pamela McGee was chosen to play for the United States team in several important international competitions.
Pan American Games
In 1983, she was part of the US team at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela. The team won all five of their games, earning the gold medal. Pamela scored about 3.4 points per game.
World Championships
Later in 1983, McGee played for the USA National team in the World Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The team won six games but lost twice to the Soviet Union. In one very close game, the US team was ahead at halftime, but the Soviets came back to win by just one point. In the gold medal game, the score was tied with only six seconds left. The Soviet team scored a last-second shot, winning the gold medal. The USA team earned the silver medal. Pamela averaged 4.2 points per game in this tournament.
Pre-Olympic Practice: Jones Cup
In 1984, the US national team went to the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. This was a practice tournament before the Olympics. The team easily won all eight of their games, often by almost 50 points! McGee averaged 6.5 points per game.
Olympic Gold Medal
After the Jones Cup, Pamela continued with the national team to represent the US at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The team played six games and won every single one, claiming the gold medal! Pamela averaged 6.2 points per game during the Olympics.
Professional Basketball Career
Pamela McGee started her professional basketball career with the Dallas Diamonds in the Women's American Basketball Association. Her sister Paula also played on this team.
After playing in the US, Pamela went on to play basketball in other countries like Brazil, Spain, and Italy. She was a four-time All-Star in the Italian League. She also won world championships in all three of these places.
WNBA Career
On April 28, 1997, Pamela McGee was chosen as the second player overall in the 1997 WNBA Draft. She was picked by the Sacramento Monarchs. Her first game in the WNBA was on June 21, 1997. She scored 6 points and helped her team win. She played for the Monarchs during her first year, averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
On April 9, 1998, she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. In her first game with the Sparks, she helped them win against the same team she beat in her very first WNBA game.
Pamela played her second and final WNBA season with the Sparks. She averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. Her WNBA career ended on August 19, 1998.
Because of all her amazing achievements in college, as a professional player, and at the Olympics, Pamela McGee was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Personal Life and Family
Pamela McGee lives in Annandale, Virginia. She has two children who are also professional basketball players. Her daughter, Imani McGee-Stafford, used to play in the WNBA and now plays in Australia. Her son, JaVale McGee, is an NBA player and has won NBA championships.
Pamela McGee is the first WNBA player to have a child play in both the NBA and the WNBA. JaVale McGee is also the first son of a WNBA player to ever play in the NBA. Interestingly, both Pamela and JaVale played professionally for teams in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. They both also won Olympic gold medals for the United States.
Pamela McGee's husband, "Big" George Montgomery, also played college basketball. He was drafted by an NBA team but never played in the league.
Pamela earned a degree in economics while playing basketball at USC. She managed to balance her international basketball career with raising her children, teaching them at home, coaching, and teaching school during the off-season.
In 2014, Pamela and JaVale starred in their own reality TV show called Mom's Got Game.
In 2021, JaVale won an Olympic gold medal for USA Basketball. This made Pamela and JaVale the first mother-and-son duo to both win Olympic gold medals!
See also
In Spanish: Pamela McGee para niños
