Houston Rockets

Mavs' 7-1 Mejri puts rim road block on another star as McGee sits

Published Jan. 25, 2016 1:02 p.m. ET

Jeff Caplan

Everywhere JaVale McGee goes hope rises that the 7-footer will put all that talent to better use than providing material for Shaqtin' A Fool.

McGee's provided some eyebrow-raising moments during his first season with the Dallas Mavericks, but coach Rick Carlisle's decision Sunday might be a telling statement of McGee's status. With starting center Zaza Pachulia sidelined by a leg injury, Carlisle started 7-foot-1 Salah Mejri, an international veteran from Tunisia who has barely gotten off the bench in his first year in the NBA. Well, that is until recently. He was a surprise insert late into a 109-106 loss last week to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He immediately brought a defensive energy -- including a hugely impressive block at the rim of Kevin Durant going in for a game-sealing slam dunk -- and helped spark a big comeback that nearly got Dallas to overtime.

Against the Rockets, Mejri, who has played in just eight games this season and played meaningful minutes in three, notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He has five blocks in the last two games, including this run-down of Rockets guard James Harden at the rim.

Carlisle has been known to send messages to players by sitting them and reward others for hard work. Mejri has certainly put himself in that category. Carlisle said of Mejri, via ESPN: "He's worked himself into some minutes."

Meanwhile, McGee was the only one of 13 players on the Mavs' active roster Sunday not to get into the game. After starting the season injured, McGee has played in 25 games, averaging 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 12.0 minutes.

Carlisle typically always goes back to players after extended bench time, but it will be interesting to see if Mejri can continue his solid play when called upon, and if a player no one had heard of just days ago can move ahead of McGee as the Mavs' backup center.